Compare towns
Brookfield vs Java vs Somerset vs Stockbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (11.5%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Somerset has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
Stockbridge has the most affordable homes ($139k 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 | Java | Somerset | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,150 |
2,049 |
3,060Highest |
1,965Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.2±6.1Lowest 4% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
45.2±1.5Highest 14% above NY |
41.6±3.8 5% above NY |
| Somerset and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.2%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.1%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Somerset and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
21.1%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
16%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Somerset and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19.1% NY: 40.2% |
16.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
3.8%±1.7 NY: 7% |
| Somerset and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$9k 20% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$69,167±$14kLowest 20% below NY |
$76,154±$12k 11% below NY |
| Java and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $152,800±$28k 64% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$167,200±$25k 61% below NY |
$139,400±$15kLowest 67% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$75 39% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$769±$259Lowest 53% below NY |
$1,042±$88Highest 36% below NY |
| Stockbridge and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,197 51% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,304 50% below NY |
$2,951Lowest 55% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±35.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.9%±17.9 NY: 52.1% |
35.6%±22.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Brookfield and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.8% NY: 14% |
9.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
85.6% NY: 54.3% |
81.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 11% above NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
32 min about the NY average |
26 minLowest 22% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.1%±3.5 NY: 14.9% |
5%±2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Brookfield and Somerset 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 | — | — | #73 of 484 in NY | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.