Compare towns
Brookfield vs Sturbridge vs Wayne
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 affordable homes ($342k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
9,960Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 35% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest 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%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne 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±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161 28% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% 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. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Sturbridge 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Sturbridge 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 | — |
| School district | Brookfield | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
— |
| 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.