Compare towns
Brookfield vs Woonsocket vs Cheshire
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 people working from home (12%).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Woonsocket | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460 |
43,521Highest |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 35% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
53.7±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Cheshire 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cheshire 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37kHighest about the U.S. average |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$69,803±$14k 14% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$268,200±$48kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Highest 18% below U.S. |
— |
| Woonsocket 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. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.2%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Woonsocket 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #274 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Hoosac Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
10.5Lowest |
| 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.