Compare towns
Brimfield vs Northfield vs Plympton
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 youngest population (median age 43.7).
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Plympton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Northfield | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,705Highest |
2,872Lowest |
2,935 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.3Lowest 9% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
46.4±4.2 16% above MA |
| Northfield and Plympton 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% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plympton and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Plympton 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% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
38.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield 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±$22k 7% above MA |
$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$126,736±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
| Plympton 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 |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$517,800±$52kHighest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $886±$365 50% below MA |
$1,142±$200Highest 35% below MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Northfield and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,128 14% below MA |
$4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,628Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±25.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Brimfield and Plympton 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% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plympton and Northfield 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brimfield | Pioneer Valley | Plympton |
| High school in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.