Compare towns
Brookfield vs Exeter vs Hampden
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Hampden has the most homeowners (94.9%).
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.
| Measure | Brookfield | Exeter | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
7,195Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
50.9±3.3 31% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Hampden 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% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 about the U.S. average |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampden 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. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
$6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Exeter-West Greenwich | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| 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.