Compare towns

Brookfield vs Upton vs Brooklyn vs Hampden

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 oldest population (median age 52.4).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Hampden has the most homeowners (94.9%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldUptonBrooklynHampden
People
Population
3,460Lowest
8,189
8,517Highest
4,946
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.4±2.1Highest
35% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
45.6±2.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
50.9±3.3
31% above U.S.
Brookfield and Hampden 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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
14%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Brooklyn 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%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.8%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Hampden 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%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookfield and Brooklyn 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
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
$104,536±$16k
29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$341,900±$23k
about the U.S. average
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$315,200±$28kLowest
5% below U.S.
$358,200±$16k
8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,014±$161
28% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
$1,132±$107Highest
20% below U.S.
Hampden and Brooklyn 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.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$4,538Lowest
45% above U.S.
$6,181
98% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.7%±11.7
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3
U.S.: 51.1%
36.9%±42.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
23% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
12%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton 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 #46 of 282 in MA #113 of 149 in CT #199 of 282 in MA
School district Brookfield Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Brooklyn School District Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town None in town Blackstone Valley None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.