Compare towns
Northfield vs Ogunquit vs Needham vs Brimfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Ogunquit | Needham | Brimfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872 |
1,379Lowest |
32,459Highest |
3,705 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.7±5.3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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 28% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$111,250±$22k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$389,100±$27k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200 19% below U.S. |
— | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$886±$365Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,128 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±25.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #108 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | — | Needham | Brimfield |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.