Compare towns
Brookfield vs Phillipston vs Ware vs Sheffield
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 oldest population (median age 52.4).
Phillipston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 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 | Phillipston | Ware | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460 |
1,895Lowest |
10,048Highest |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
48.8±1.7 22% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
48.2±8 21% above MA |
| Brookfield and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
17%±5 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Sheffield 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% |
25.4% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$92,120±$31k 11% below MA |
| Phillipston and Sheffield 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±$27k 34% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$409,400±$32kHighest 27% below MA |
| Sheffield and Phillipston 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±$849 22% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
| Sheffield and Phillipston 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 |
$3,914Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,520 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
92.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | — | Ware | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
7.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.