Compare towns
Brimfield vs Gill 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 highest household income ($111k).
Gill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Wales has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Gill | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,705Highest |
1,740Lowest |
1,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.3 9% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Gill and Brimfield 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% |
19%±8.7Lowest 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% |
21.1%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Brimfield and Gill 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% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gill 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 |
$90,208±$14k 13% below MA |
$89,006±$6kLowest 14% below MA |
| Brimfield and Gill 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 |
$340,100±$17k 39% below MA |
$296,200±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
$1,193±$246Highest 32% below MA |
$1,104±$242 37% below MA |
| Gill 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 |
$4,318Lowest 28% below MA |
$4,534 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±25.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Gill and Wales 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Gill 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 | — | — |
| School district | Brimfield | Gill-Montague | Wales |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.