Compare towns
Brimfield vs Northfield vs Ware vs Mendon
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%).
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Ware | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,705 |
2,872Lowest |
10,048Highest |
6,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.3 9% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% 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% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest 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% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest 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 |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
| 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 |
$375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
$1,142±$200 35% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,128 14% below MA |
$4,594 23% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±25.4 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1985 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brimfield | Pioneer Valley | Ware | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.