Compare towns
Gill vs Douglas vs Brimfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gill has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Brimfield has the most homeowners (87.5%).
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 | Gill | Douglas | Brimfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,740Lowest |
9,207Highest |
3,705 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
43.7±5.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Douglas and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±8.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Brimfield and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gill and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,208±$14kLowest 13% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$111,250±$22k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$17kLowest 39% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$389,100±$27k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$246 32% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
| Douglas and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,318Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$5,128 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±25.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Gill and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 29% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±8 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Gill 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #108 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gill-Montague | Douglas | Brimfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| 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.