Compare towns
Brookfield vs Lancaster vs Holland
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 oldest population (median age 52.4).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Holland has the most homeowners (95%).
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 | Lancaster | Holland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
8,606Highest |
2,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
51.9±7.8 30% above MA |
| Brookfield and Holland 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% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Holland 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.8%±4 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Holland 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% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Holland 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 |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$91,979±$12k 12% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$333,600±$33kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,750±$209 about the MA average |
| Lancaster and Holland 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,279Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Holland 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #182 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Nashoba | Holland |
| 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 |
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.