Compare towns
Ashfield vs Brookfield vs Buzzards Bay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
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 | Ashfield | Brookfield | Buzzards Bay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893Lowest |
3,460Highest |
2,909 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
52.4±2.1Lowest 31% above MA |
54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
| Ashfield and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Buzzards Bay 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% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
$94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$454,500±$28kHighest 19% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200 38% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Ashfield 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 |
$5,092 15% below MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
7.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield and Buzzards Bay 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 | — | #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 | 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.