Compare towns
Brookfield vs Epping vs Sturbridge
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Epping | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
7,430 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Epping 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Epping 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 |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Epping and Sturbridge 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. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Epping and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Sturbridge 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Epping School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.