Compare towns
Brookfield vs Middlesex vs Sturbridge
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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Middlesex | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
1,943Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Sturbridge 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092Lowest 63% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Sturbridge 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Sturbridge 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.