Compare towns
Northfield vs Smithfield 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 people working from home (16.5%).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Smithfield | Brimfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872Lowest |
22,233Highest |
3,705 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.7±5.3 12% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brimfield and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$111,250±$22kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| 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±$31kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$389,100±$27k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241 28% below U.S. |
$886±$365Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Lowest 47% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$5,128 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±25.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield and Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #108 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Smithfield | Brimfield |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.