Compare towns
Brookfield vs Wayne vs West 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 youngest population (median age 52.4).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
West Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Wayne | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
1,101Lowest |
3,859Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Lowest 35% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3 43% above U.S. |
58.5±3.2Highest 50% above U.S. |
| West Brookfield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Brookfield and Wayne 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% 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% |
1.2%±1Lowest 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±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$95,613±$12kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| West Brookfield and Wayne 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±$29kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$354,000±$21k 6% above U.S. |
| Wayne and West 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. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,236±$271Highest 13% below U.S. |
| West 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. |
$4,260 37% 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% |
30.3%±18.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and West 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±15 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | — | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | RSU 38 | Quaboag Regional |
| 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.