Compare towns
Brimfield vs Petersham 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 youngest population (median age 43.7).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Petersham | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,705 |
1,185Lowest |
6,325Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.3Lowest 9% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±6 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham 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% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Petersham 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 |
$110,750±$20kLowest 7% above 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±$27kLowest 31% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
| Mendon and Petersham 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 |
$4,636Lowest 23% below MA |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±25.4 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1985 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham 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 | — | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brimfield | Petersham | Mendon-Upton |
| 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.