Compare towns
Brookfield vs Orange 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 the most people working from home (12%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Cheshire has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Orange | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
7,573Highest |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest 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±$37kHighest 22% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$69,803±$14k 33% below MA |
| Brookfield and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23kHighest 39% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$268,200±$48k 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Highest 42% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
— |
| Brookfield and Orange 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 |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brookfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Brookfield and Orange 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #274 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Hoosac Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
10.5Highest |
| 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.