Compare towns
Brimfield vs Pelham vs Wales
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brimfield has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Pelham | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,705 |
14,449Highest |
1,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.3±4.7 9% above U.S. |
| Brimfield and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wales and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brimfield and Wales 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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 38% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$89,006±$6kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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 17% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$296,200±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $886±$365Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$242 22% below U.S. |
| Pelham and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,128 64% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,534Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±25.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #108 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Brimfield | Pelham School District | Wales |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.