Compare towns
Northfield vs Plainfield 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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Brimfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Plainfield | Brimfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872 |
616Lowest |
3,705Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
43.7±5.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Plainfield 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% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Brimfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Northfield 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% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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±$10k about the MA average |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% 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 |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
| Plainfield 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 |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$5,128Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 8% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 |
| 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.