What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($153k median).

Whiting has the most expensive homes ($280k 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.

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

Measure	Brookfield	Whiting
People
Population	2,150Highest	532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.2±6.1Highest 6% above U.S.	39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average
	Brookfield and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Whiting and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brookfield and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Whiting and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,205±$9kLowest 14% below U.S.	$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S.
	Whiting and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$152,800±$28kLowest 54% below U.S.	$280,400±$36kHighest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$75Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S.
	Whiting and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,197Lowest about the U.S. average	$4,227Highest 36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±35.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Whiting and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookfield and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.