Compare towns
Wales vs Brimfield vs Chester
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 youngest population (median age 42.3).
Brimfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Chester has the shortest commute (32 min average).
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 | Brimfield | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,929 |
3,705Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
43.7±5.3 9% above MA |
45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA |
| Chester and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest 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% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
| Brimfield and Chester 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 |
$389,100±$27kHighest 31% below MA |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$242Highest 37% below MA |
$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
$1,104±$71Highest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,534 24% below MA |
$5,128Highest 14% below MA |
$4,522Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±25.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Wales and Chester 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% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest 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 | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.