What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brimfield has the most people working from home (13.7%).

Southampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brimfield	Southampton
People
Population	3,705Lowest	6,230Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±5.3Highest 9% above MA	43.4±3.5Lowest 9% above MA
	Brimfield and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±6Highest MA: 19.4%	19.1%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Brimfield and Southampton 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%	21.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Brimfield and Southampton 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%	41.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Southampton 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±$22kLowest 7% above MA	$123,125±$23kHighest 18% above MA
	Southampton 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	$452,300±$25kHighest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$886±$365 50% below MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,128Lowest 14% below MA	$5,470Highest 9% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.2%±25.4Highest MA: 51.8%	26.2%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Brimfield and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Highest MA: 10%	2.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	90.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA	1983Lowest 19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	22 minLowest 23% below MA
Work from home	13.7%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6%	8.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Brimfield and Southampton 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	#205 of 282 in MA
School district	Brimfield	Southampton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.