Compare towns
Brookfield vs Sutton vs Upton vs East Brookfield
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 most affordable homes ($342k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
East Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.2).
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 | Sutton | Upton | East Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460 |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
1,445Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
58.2±11.1Highest 46% above MA |
| East Brookfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.9%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
28.8%±6.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| East Brookfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Sutton 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 22% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$69,837±$36kLowest 33% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$364,700±$32k 35% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161 42% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,134±$22 36% below MA |
| Sutton and East Brookfield 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,371Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.4%±38.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
5.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Brookfield | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.