Compare towns
Brookfield vs Springfield vs Sturbridge
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 oldest population (median age 52.4).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
154,749Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Sturbridge 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest 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±$37k 22% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 15% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Springfield | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.