Compare towns
Brookfield vs Oakham vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Oakham | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Highest |
1,639Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA |
53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA |
| Cheshire and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Cheshire 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% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Cheshire 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% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Cheshire 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 22% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$69,803±$14kLowest 33% below MA |
| Oakham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
— |
| Oakham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092Highest 15% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brookfield and Oakham 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Brookfield and Oakham 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 | — | #274 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Quabbin | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hoosac Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.