Compare towns
Brookfield vs Preston vs Cheshire
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 most people working from home (12%).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Preston | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
4,821Highest |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 35% above U.S. |
46.2±7Lowest 19% above U.S. |
53.7±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Preston 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$69,803±$14kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Preston 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 about the U.S. average |
$361,900±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$268,200±$48kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Preston 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 28% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Preston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092Highest 63% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.2%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Preston 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #274 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Preston School District | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.