Compare towns
Brookfield vs Buzzards Bay vs Wareham vs Phillipston
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%).
Wareham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Phillipston has the most kids (17% under 18).
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 | Wareham | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460 |
2,909 |
23,302Highest |
1,895Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
48.8±1.7Lowest 22% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
17%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Phillipston and Brookfield 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%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay 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% MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
25.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$94,692±$14kHighest 9% below MA |
| Phillipston 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±$28kHighest 19% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$372,400±$27k 34% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Wareham 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±$601 16% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,375±$849 22% below MA |
| Wareham and Buzzards Bay 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 |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$3,914 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Wareham 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% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
92.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay and Wareham 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 | — | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Brookfield | — | Wareham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wareham Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.