Compare towns
Brookfield vs Athol vs Hampden
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 people working from home (12%).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Hampden has the highest household income ($105k).
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 | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
12,011Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
50.9±3.3 27% above MA |
| Brookfield and Hampden 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% |
14%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$104,536±$16kHighest about the MA average |
| Hampden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$358,200±$16kHighest 36% below MA |
| Hampden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
$1,132±$107 36% below MA |
| Athol and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 15% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,181Highest 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest 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% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest 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 | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Athol-Royalston | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.