Compare towns
Brookfield vs Central Falls vs Phillipston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (12%).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Phillipston has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Central Falls | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
22,701Highest |
1,895Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
48.8±1.7 25% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Central Falls 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 about the U.S. average |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$94,692±$14kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Phillipston 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±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$372,400±$27kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Phillipston and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,375±$849Highest about the U.S. average |
| Phillipston and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092Highest 63% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Phillipston and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Phillipston 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Brookfield | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Central Falls Sr High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.