What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).

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	Brookfield	Adams
People
Population	3,460Lowest	8,074Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA	47.3±3.3Lowest 18% above MA
	Brookfield and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Adams and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%	25.2%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Brookfield and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Brookfield and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,250±$37kHighest 22% below MA	$58,929±$6kLowest 43% below MA
	Brookfield and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$341,900±$23kHighest 39% below MA	$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,014±$161Highest 42% below MA	$963±$74Lowest 45% below MA
	Brookfield and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,092Highest 15% below MA	$3,638Lowest 39% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.1%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Adams and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%	13.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 11% above MA	24 minLowest 19% below MA
Work from home	12%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6%	8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Brookfield and Adams 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	#230 of 282 in MA
School district	Brookfield	Hoosac Valley Regional
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.