Compare towns
Brimfield vs Erving vs Mendon 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 most homeowners (87.5%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Erving | Mendon | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,705 |
1,703Lowest |
6,325Highest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.3 9% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
| Northfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±6 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Brimfield 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% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$22k 7% above MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
| Mendon and Brimfield 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 |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,142±$200 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,128 14% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$4,594 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±25.4 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Brimfield 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1985 21 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northfield and Mendon 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 | — | #210 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brimfield | Erving | Mendon-Upton | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.