Compare towns
Brookfield vs Hanson vs West Brookfield
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 affordable homes ($342k median).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
West Brookfield has the most people working from home (18.9%).
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 | Hanson | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
10,660Highest |
3,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Brookfield 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% |
19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Hanson 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 |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$95,613±$12k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$354,000±$21k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,236±$271 30% below MA |
| Hanson and West Brookfield 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 |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$4,260Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson 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 MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15Highest MA: 18.6% |
| West Brookfield 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Whitman-Hanson | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.