Compare towns
Brookfield vs Millis vs Plainfield vs Hampden
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).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hampden has the most homeowners (94.9%).
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 | Millis | Plainfield | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
8,888 |
15,141Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
46.4±3 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.9±3.3 31% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Millis 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% |
23.5%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37k about the U.S. average |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 63% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,181 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Millis 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Millis 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Millis | Plainfield School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.