Compare towns
Brookfield vs Sturbridge vs Thompson
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 most homeowners (87.5%).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Sturbridge | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
9,960Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 35% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161 28% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 63% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
7.9Highest |
| 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.