Compare towns
Brimfield vs Dudley vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brimfield has the highest household income ($111k).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Brimfield | Dudley | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,705 |
11,929Highest |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.3 9% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
| Northfield and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Brimfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$22kHighest 7% above MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
| Brimfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,100±$27k 31% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
| Dudley and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,142±$200 35% below MA |
| Dudley and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,128Highest 14% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,594 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±25.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Brimfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northfield and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #108 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brimfield | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.