Compare towns
Northfield vs Dedham 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 oldest population (median age 48.9).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Brimfield has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
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 | Dedham | Brimfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872Lowest |
25,237Highest |
3,705 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.7±5.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Northfield and Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Brimfield and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Northfield 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$111,250±$22k 7% above MA |
| Dedham 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 |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$389,100±$27k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200 35% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,128 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±25.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Brimfield 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #108 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | — | Brimfield |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.