What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wales has the most affordable homes ($296k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wales	Brimfield
People
Population	1,929Lowest	3,705Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±4.7Lowest 6% 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%	21.2%±6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Wales and Brimfield 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%	22.3%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Brimfield and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	44.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Brimfield and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,006±$6kLowest 14% 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±$26kLowest 47% below MA	$389,100±$27kHighest 31% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$242Highest 37% below MA	$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA
	Wales and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,534Lowest 24% below MA	$5,128Highest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8%	53.2%±25.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Wales and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.1%Highest MA: 10%	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	87.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 19 yrs newer than MA	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	34 minLowest 16% above MA
Work from home	13.6%±5.7Lowest 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	—	#108 of 282 in MA
School district	Wales	Brimfield
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.