Compare towns
Brookfield vs Buzzards Bay vs Lenox
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 affordable homes ($342k median).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Lenox has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Lenox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
2,909Lowest |
5,079Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Lowest 31% above MA |
54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
| Lenox and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Brookfield and Lenox 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%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox 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+ | 28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest 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±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
$94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average |
| Lenox and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
| Lenox and Buzzards Bay 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 |
$1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$1,091±$238 38% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Lenox 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 |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,299Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Brookfield and Lenox 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% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lenox 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 | — | #90 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | — | Lenox |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Lenox Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.6 |
| 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.