Compare towns
Brookfield vs Thompson vs Phillipston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Phillipston has the most kids (17% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
9,337Highest |
1,895Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 35% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
48.8±1.7Lowest 25% 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Phillipston 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% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Phillipston 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 |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$94,692±$14kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Phillipston and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$372,400±$27kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Phillipston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161 28% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,375±$849Highest about the U.S. average |
| Phillipston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092Highest 63% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Phillipston and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Brookfield | Thompson School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| 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.