Compare towns
Brookfield vs Colebrook vs Hampden
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%).
Colebrook has the most kids (17.9% under 18).
Hampden has the shortest commute (26 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 | Colebrook | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
1,494Lowest |
4,946Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
52.1±5 34% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Colebrook 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% |
17.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Colebrook and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Hampden 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Colebrook 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 |
$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Hampden 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 |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Colebrook 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. |
$1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092Lowest 63% above U.S. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
$6,181 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Colebrook 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Hampden 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 | — | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Colebrook School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.