Compare towns
Brookfield vs Springfield vs East Brookfield
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 people working from home (12%).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
East Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.2).
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 | Springfield | East Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
154,749Highest |
1,445Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
58.2±11.1Highest 46% above MA |
| East Brookfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.9%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.8%±6.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| East Brookfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37kHighest 22% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$69,837±$36k 33% below MA |
| Brookfield and East 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 39% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$364,700±$32kHighest 35% below MA |
| East Brookfield 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 42% below MA |
$1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA |
$1,134±$22 36% below MA |
| Springfield and East Brookfield 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,371 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.4%±38.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
5.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Brookfield and Springfield 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Brookfield | Springfield | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.