Compare towns
Northfield 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
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Northfield | Douglas | Brimfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872Lowest |
9,207Highest |
3,705 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
43.7±5.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Northfield and Douglas 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%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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 |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$111,250±$22k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$389,100±$27k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200 35% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
| Douglas 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 |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$5,128 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±25.4Highest 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 8% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #108 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Douglas | Brimfield |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
7.2Lowest |
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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.