Compare towns
Brookfield vs Dalton vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Hampden has the highest household income ($105k).
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 | Dalton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
6,256Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
50.9±3.3 27% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton 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 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Dalton 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 MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$37k 22% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$104,536±$16kHighest about the MA average |
| Hampden 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±$23k 39% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$358,200±$16kHighest 36% below MA |
| Hampden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161 42% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,132±$107Highest 36% below MA |
| Hampden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 15% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,181Highest 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brookfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Central Berkshire | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.