Compare towns
Wales vs Westhampton 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 kids (23.1% under 18).
Westhampton has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.
| Measure | Wales | Westhampton | Erving | Brimfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,929 |
1,552Lowest |
1,703 |
3,705Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
43.7±5.3 9% above MA |
| Westhampton and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±6 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% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton and Erving 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% |
47%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% |
3.7%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Westhampton 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 |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$111,250±$22kHighest 7% above MA |
| Brimfield and Westhampton 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 |
$413,200±$24kHighest 26% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$389,100±$27k 31% below MA |
| Westhampton and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$242 37% below MA |
$1,304±$229Highest 26% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
| Westhampton and Erving 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 |
$6,476Highest 8% 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% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±25.4 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% MA: 10% |
6.5%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
91.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs 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 |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Westhampton and Brimfield 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 | Hampshire · Westhampton | Erving | Brimfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Hampshire Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.