Compare towns

Brookfield vs Wayne vs East Brookfield

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).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
East Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldWayneEast Brookfield
People
Population
3,460Highest
1,101Lowest
2,166
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.4±2.1
35% above U.S.
55.6±5.3Highest
43% above U.S.
52.1±6.4Lowest
34% 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%
13.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
East Brookfield 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%
29.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.7%±5.2Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
27%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
6.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
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±$37k
about the U.S. average
$93,194±$26kHighest
15% above U.S.
$81,042±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
Wayne and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$341,900±$23kLowest
about the U.S. average
$362,800±$29k
9% above U.S.
$381,200±$30kHighest
15% above U.S.
East Brookfield and Wayne 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.
$983±$554Lowest
30% below U.S.
$1,142±$33Highest
19% below U.S.
East Brookfield 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.
$3,289Lowest
5% above U.S.
$4,430
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.7%±11.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±52.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
34.2%±39.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookfield and East 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%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
23% above U.S.
30 minLowest
15% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
12%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
26.2%±11.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wayne 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 — —
School district Brookfield RSU 38 Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.