Compare towns
Brookfield vs Chaplin vs Hampton vs West Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Hampton has the most kids (19.7% under 18).
West Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.5).
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 | Chaplin | Hampton | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460 |
2,070 |
1,647Lowest |
3,859Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 35% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
58.5±3.2Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Brookfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin 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 about the U.S. average |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$95,613±$12k 18% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$354,000±$21kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Brookfield and Brookfield 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. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,236±$271 13% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Hampton 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. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$4,260Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±15Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Brookfield and Chaplin 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 | — | — | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Hampton School District | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.