Compare towns
Wales vs Needham vs Erving 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 homeowners (89.4%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Brimfield has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Needham | Erving | Brimfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,929 |
32,459Highest |
1,703Lowest |
3,705 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
43.7±5.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Brimfield and Erving 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±6 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Brimfield 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$111,250±$22k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,200±$26k 47% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$389,100±$27k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$242 37% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,534 24% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$5,128 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±25.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Wales and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #108 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wales | Needham | Erving | Brimfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.