Compare towns
Wales vs Athol vs Brimfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wales has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Brimfield has the most expensive homes ($389k median).
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 | Wales | Athol | Brimfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,929Lowest |
12,011Highest |
3,705 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±4.7 6% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
43.7±5.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Brimfield and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wales and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Brimfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.4% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Athol and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,006±$6k 14% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$111,250±$22kHighest 7% above MA |
| Brimfield and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,200±$26k 47% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$389,100±$27kHighest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$242 37% below MA |
$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
| Athol and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,534 24% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,128Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±25.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wales and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Brimfield and Wales 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | #108 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wales | Athol-Royalston | Brimfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.