What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monson has the most affordable homes ($348k median).

Brimfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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	Monson	Brimfield
People
Population	8,136Highest	3,705Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.8±3.2Highest 20% above MA	43.7±5.3Lowest 9% above MA
	Monson and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Brimfield and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%	22.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Monson and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	44.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Monson and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,688±$14kLowest 7% below MA	$111,250±$22kHighest 7% above MA
	Brimfield and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$348,400±$15kLowest 38% below MA	$389,100±$27kHighest 31% below MA
	Brimfield and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$871±$215Lowest 51% below MA	$886±$365Highest 50% below MA
	Brimfield and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,877Lowest 19% below MA	$5,128Highest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.2%±25.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Brimfield and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest MA: 10%	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	34 minLowest 16% above MA
Work from home	10.7%±7.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.7%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Brimfield and Monson 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	#235 of 282 in MA	#108 of 282 in MA
School district	Monson	Brimfield
High school in town	Monson High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.2	—
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.