Compare towns
Brookfield vs Athol vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($342k median).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Cheshire has the oldest population (median age 53.7).
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 | Brookfield | Athol | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
12,011Highest |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA |
| Cheshire and Brookfield 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% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Cheshire and Brookfield 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% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Cheshire 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 |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$69,803±$14k 33% below MA |
| Brookfield and Cheshire 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 |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$268,200±$48k 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
— |
| Athol and Brookfield 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 |
$3,403 43% below MA |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Brookfield and Athol 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #274 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Athol-Royalston | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | Hoosac Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
10.5Lowest |
| 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.