Compare towns
Brookfield vs Lee 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).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Phillipston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Lee | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
5,719Highest |
1,895Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
48.8±1.7Lowest 22% above MA |
| Lee and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Phillipston 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee 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% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$94,692±$14kHighest 9% below MA |
| Phillipston and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$372,400±$27kHighest 34% below MA |
| Phillipston and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,375±$849Highest 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092Highest 15% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$3,914Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Lee 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Brookfield | Lee | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.