Compare towns
Brookfield vs Hampton vs Hampden vs Sheffield
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 oldest population (median age 52.4).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Hampden has the most homeowners (94.9%).
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 | Hampton | Hampden | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460 |
1,647Lowest |
4,946Highest |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3 31% above U.S. |
48.2±8Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±5.2Lowest 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% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Hampden 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 |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
$92,120±$31k 14% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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±$23k about the U.S. average |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Sheffield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 63% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
$4,520 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | — | #199 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Hampton School District | Hampden-Wilbraham | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.