Compare towns
Brookfield vs Plainville vs Upton vs Hampden
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).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Hampden has the most homeowners (94.9%).
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 | Plainville | Upton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
17,551Highest |
8,189 |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3 31% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161 28% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,132±$107Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Hampden and Plainville 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. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,181 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.