Compare towns
Brookfield vs Hingham vs Phillipston
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).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Phillipston has the shortest commute (29 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 | Hingham | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
24,283Highest |
1,895Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
48.8±1.7 22% above MA |
| Brookfield and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Hingham 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% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Phillipston 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$94,692±$14k 9% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$372,400±$27k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,375±$849 22% below MA |
| Hingham and Phillipston 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,914Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Hingham 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% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Brookfield | Hingham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.