Compare towns
Northfield vs Brimfield vs Ashby
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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Brimfield has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Brimfield | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872Lowest |
3,705Highest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
43.7±5.3Lowest 9% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
| Ashby and Northfield 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% |
21.2%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Brimfield and Ashby 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% |
22.3%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$111,250±$22k 7% above MA |
$115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
| Ashby and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$389,100±$27k 31% below MA |
$390,500±$30kHighest 31% below MA |
| Ashby and Brimfield 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 |
$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
$1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
| Ashby and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
$5,128 14% below MA |
$6,034Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±25.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brimfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 8% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Northfield 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 | #108 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Brimfield | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
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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.