Compare towns
Brimfield vs Ware vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brimfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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.
| Measure | Brimfield | Ware | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,705 |
10,048Highest |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.3 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
| Northfield and Brimfield 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%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Brimfield and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Highest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$22kHighest 7% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
| Brimfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,100±$27kHighest 31% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
| Brimfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,142±$200Highest 35% below MA |
| Northfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,128Highest 14% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,594 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±25.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northfield and Brimfield 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brimfield | Ware | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.