Compare towns
Brookfield vs Dummerston vs West Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
West Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Dummerston | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
2,090Lowest |
3,859Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 35% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
58.5±3.2Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Brookfield and 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$95,613±$12k 18% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and West 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 about the U.S. average |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$354,000±$21kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Brookfield and Brookfield 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. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,236±$271 13% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092Highest 63% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,260Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Dummerston 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±15 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and West 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 | — | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Quaboag Regional |
| 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.