Compare towns
Northfield vs Athol vs Brimfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Brimfield has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Northfield | Athol | Brimfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872Lowest |
12,011Highest |
3,705 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
43.7±5.3 9% 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 | 14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±6 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.4 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+ | 42.4% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10k about the MA average |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$111,250±$22kHighest 7% above MA |
| Brimfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$389,100±$27kHighest 31% 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 | $1,142±$200 35% below MA |
$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
| Athol and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 23% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,128Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±25.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #108 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Athol-Royalston | Brimfield |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.6Highest |
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| 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.