What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).

Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).

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	Ashfield	Brookfield
People
Population	1,893Lowest	3,460Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA	52.4±2.1Lowest 31% above MA
Kids under 18	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	13.4%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Brookfield and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	28.4%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ashfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Highest MA: 47.3%	28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA	$81,250±$37kHighest 22% below MA
	Brookfield and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,600±$30kHighest 29% below MA	$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$200Highest 38% below MA	$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA
	Ashfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,197Highest 13% below MA	$5,092Lowest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Highest MA: 10%	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	24%±6Highest MA: 18.6%	12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#109 of 282 in MA
School district	Mohawk Trail	Brookfield
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.