Compare towns
Brimfield vs Gardner vs Wales
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 expensive homes ($389k median).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Wales has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Gardner | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,705 |
21,148Highest |
1,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±6 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wales and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Brimfield and Gardner 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% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$22kHighest 7% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$89,006±$6k 14% below MA |
| Brimfield and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,100±$27kHighest 31% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$296,200±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA |
$1,104±$242 37% below MA |
| Gardner and Wales 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 |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,534 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±25.4 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wales 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% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Brimfield and Wales 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Brimfield | Gardner | Wales |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.