Compare towns
Brookfield vs Buzzards Bay 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 youngest population (median age 52.4).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k 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.
| Measure | Brookfield | Buzzards Bay | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Highest |
2,909Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Lowest 31% above MA |
54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
53.7±4.5 34% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Cheshire and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Cheshire 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% |
29.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5Lowest 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 | $81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
$94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
$69,803±$14kLowest 33% 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 | $341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
$454,500±$28kHighest 19% below MA |
$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
— |
| Buzzards Bay 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 |
$3,405 43% below MA |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brookfield and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield 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 | — | #274 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | — | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hoosac Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.