What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).

Sterling has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookfield	Sterling
People
Population	3,460Lowest	8,183Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA	51.5±1.8Lowest 29% above MA
	Brookfield and Sterling 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%	18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sterling and Brookfield 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%	22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Brookfield and Sterling 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%	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Brookfield and Sterling 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	$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA
	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±$23kLowest 39% below MA	$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA	$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,092Lowest 15% below MA	$6,757Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8%	46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Brookfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest MA: 10%	6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 11% above MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sterling 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	#135 of 282 in MA
School district	Brookfield	Wachusett
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.