Compare towns
Brookfield vs Buzzards Bay vs Mashpee 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 affordable homes ($342k median).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Mashpee has the most expensive homes ($562k median).
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 | Buzzards Bay | Mashpee | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460 |
2,909Lowest |
15,384Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
55.9±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
50.9±3.3Lowest 27% above MA |
| Mashpee 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%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Mashpee and Hampden 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% |
32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
33.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Mashpee 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% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 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 |
$95,299±$13k 8% below MA |
$104,536±$16kHighest about the MA average |
| Hampden and Mashpee 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 |
$562,200±$29kHighest about the MA average |
$358,200±$16k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$1,776±$330Highest about the MA average |
$1,132±$107 36% below MA |
| Mashpee and Buzzards Bay 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 |
$3,762 37% below MA |
$6,181Highest 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±14.5 MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brookfield and Mashpee 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% MA: 10% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.9% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay and Mashpee 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 | — | #100 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | — | Mashpee | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Mashpee Middle-High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.