Compare towns
Brookfield vs Walpole vs West 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 homeowners (87.5%).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
West Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.5).
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 | Walpole | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
26,388Highest |
3,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Walpole 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 22% below MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$95,613±$12k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$354,000±$21k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,236±$271 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 15% below MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$4,260Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brookfield and Walpole 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% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15 MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole and West 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | Walpole High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.