Compare towns
Brookfield vs Phillipston 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%).
Phillipston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Phillipston | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Highest |
1,895Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
48.8±1.7Lowest 22% 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% |
17%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Phillipston 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% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$94,692±$14kHighest 9% below MA |
$69,803±$14kLowest 33% below MA |
| Phillipston 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 |
$372,400±$27kHighest 34% below MA |
$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
| Phillipston and Brookfield 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±$849Highest 22% below MA |
— |
| Phillipston 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 |
$3,914 35% below MA |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston 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 MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Brookfield and Phillipston 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 | — | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school 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.