Compare towns

Brookfield vs Colebrook vs Upton

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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldColebrookUpton
People
Population
3,460
1,494Lowest
8,189Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.4±2.1Highest
35% above U.S.
52.1±5
34% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Lowest
19% 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%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Colebrook 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%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Colebrook 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%
53.5%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%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
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±$17k
38% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
Upton and Colebrook 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.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,014±$161
28% below U.S.
$1,333±$626Highest
6% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
Colebrook and Brookfield 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.
$6,211
99% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.7%±11.7
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±55Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton 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%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
23% above U.S.
34 min
29% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
12%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Brookfield 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 — #46 of 282 in MA
School district Brookfield Colebrook School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town None in town None in town Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.2
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.