Compare towns
Brookfield vs Cumberland 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 affordable homes ($342k median).
Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Hampden has the most homeowners (94.9%).
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 | Cumberland | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
36,820Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3 31% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Hampden 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% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest 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% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Hampden 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 |
$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Cumberland 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 |
$431,000±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 63% above U.S. |
$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Cumberland 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% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cumberland 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 | #18 of 38 in RI | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Cumberland High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
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| 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.