Compare towns

Brookfield vs Devens vs East Brookfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
East Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldDevensEast Brookfield
People
Population
3,460Highest
1,723Lowest
2,166
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%
MA: +7.4%
-7.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
52.4±2.1Highest
31% above MA
48.6±4.3Lowest
22% above MA
52.1±6.4
30% above MA
Brookfield and East Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.4%±4.7
MA: 19.4%
5.5%±3.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
15.3%±2.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
East Brookfield and Brookfield 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%
14%±5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
26.7%±5.2
MA: 17.9%
Brookfield and East 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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
21.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
27%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±3.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.2%±4.2
MA: 7.9%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Brookfield and Devens 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
$189,250±$63kHighest
82% above MA
$81,042±$16kLowest
22% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$341,900±$23kLowest
39% below MA
$556,800±$96kHighest
about the MA average
$381,200±$30k
32% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,014±$161Lowest
42% below MA
$1,500±$539Highest
15% below MA
$1,142±$33
35% below MA
Devens and East 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
$5,556Highest
7% below MA
$4,430Lowest
26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.7%±11.7
MA: 51.8%
85.4%±64.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
34.2%±39.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Devens and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
MA: 10%
25.3%Highest
MA: 10%
7.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
79.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
11% above MA
28 minLowest
4% below MA
33 minHighest
14% above MA
Work from home
12%±5.5
MA: 18.6%
28.5%±11.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.3%±3.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Devens 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 — —
School district Brookfield — Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.