Compare towns
Brookfield vs Sterling vs North Brookfield
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).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
North Brookfield has the most renters (30.7% rent).
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 | Sterling | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
3,629 |
4,760Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and North 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and North 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% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and North 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 about the U.S. average |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Sterling 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 |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$359,100±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| North 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±$161Highest 28% below U.S. |
— | $981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and North 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. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,176Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Brookfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Brookfield 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Sterling School District | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 5.5 |
| 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.