Compare towns
Brookfield vs Plainfield vs Sturbridge
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).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Plainfield | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
15,141Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Sturbridge 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 63% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Sturbridge 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Plainfield School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.