Compare towns
Brookfield vs Everett vs West Brookfield vs Sturbridge
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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
West Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.5).
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 | Everett | West Brookfield | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
50,045Highest |
3,859 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 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 |
$95,613±$12k 8% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$354,000±$21k 37% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,236±$271 30% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 15% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,260Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 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% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
38 min 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Everett | Quaboag Regional | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| 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.