Compare towns
Brookfield vs Plympton vs Hampden
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 renters (12.5% rent).
Plympton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Hampden has the shortest commute (26 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 | Plympton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
2,935Lowest |
4,946Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
46.4±4.2Lowest 16% above MA |
50.9±3.3 27% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Plympton and Hampden 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% |
22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
38.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
$126,736±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$104,536±$16k about the MA average |
| Plympton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$517,800±$52kHighest 8% below MA |
$358,200±$16k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161 42% below MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
$1,132±$107Highest 36% below MA |
| Hampden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092Lowest 15% below MA |
$6,628Highest 11% above MA |
$6,181 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Plympton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.1% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plympton 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 | #110 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Plympton | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.