Compare towns

Brookfield vs Sturbridge vs Holland

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).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($132k).
Holland has the most homeowners (95%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldSturbridgeHolland
People
Population
3,460Highest
2,443Lowest
2,583
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
52.4±2.1Highest
31% above MA
47.8±6.8Lowest
20% above MA
51.9±7.8
30% above MA
Brookfield and Holland 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%
18.7%±4.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.8%±4.8
MA: 19.4%
Sturbridge and Holland 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%
19.1%±7.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
27.8%±4
MA: 17.9%
Brookfield and Holland 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%
55.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
35.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±3.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.9%±3.8
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±3.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Brookfield and Sturbridge 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
$131,568±$34kHighest
27% above MA
$91,979±$12k
12% below MA
Sturbridge and Holland 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
$418,400±$29kHighest
26% below MA
$333,600±$33kLowest
41% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,014±$161Lowest
42% below MA
$2,009±$225Highest
14% above MA
$1,750±$209
about the MA average
Sturbridge and Holland 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
$6,410Highest
7% above MA
$4,279Lowest
29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.7%±11.7
MA: 51.8%
29.1%±19.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.6%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
Holland 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
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
MA: 62.5%
83.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
95%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
11% above MA
32 minLowest
9% above MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
Work from home
12%±5.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
14%±9.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
12%±4Lowest
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 #89 of 282 in MA #182 of 282 in MA
School district Brookfield — Holland
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.