Compare towns
Brookfield vs Everett vs Hampden vs Sheffield
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 people working from home (12%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Hampden has the highest household income ($105k).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Everett | Hampden | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460 |
50,045Highest |
4,946 |
3,330Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
50.9±3.3 27% above MA |
48.2±8 21% 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%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Brookfield 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 22% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$104,536±$16kHighest about the MA average |
$92,120±$31k 11% below MA |
| Hampden and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$358,200±$16k 36% below MA |
$409,400±$32k 27% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,132±$107 36% below MA |
$1,837±$1k 4% above MA |
| Everett and Sheffield 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$6,181Highest 3% above MA |
$4,520Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Brookfield and Everett 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Everett | Hampden-Wilbraham | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.