What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the shortest commute (32 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookfield	West Brookfield
People
Population	3,460Lowest	3,859Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52.4±2.1Lowest 31% above MA	58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA
Kids under 18	13.4%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%	13%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Brookfield and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±5.7Lowest 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%	34%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA	$95,613±$12kHighest 8% below MA
	West Brookfield 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 39% below MA	$354,000±$21kHighest 37% below MA
	West Brookfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA	$1,236±$271Highest 30% below MA
	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 15% below MA	$4,260Lowest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8%	30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	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 MA: 10%	8.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 11% above MA	42 minHighest 44% above MA
Work from home	12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±15Highest MA: 18.6%
	West Brookfield 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	#162 of 282 in MA
School district	Brookfield	Quaboag Regional
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.