What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most kids (17.2% under 18).

Gaines has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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	Gaines
People
Population	384Lowest	559Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+12.2% PA: +2.4%
Median age	56.4±5.7Lowest 38% above PA	56.6±6.7Highest 38% above PA
	Gaines and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±5.7Highest PA: 20.4%	8.9%±3.9Lowest PA: 20.4%
	Brookfield and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.9%±4.9Highest PA: 19.5%	31.7%±3Lowest PA: 19.5%
	Brookfield and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.3%Highest PA: 35.2%	14.4%Lowest PA: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.2Highest PA: 6.1%	1.6%±1.5Lowest PA: 6.1%
	Brookfield and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,417±$18kLowest 35% below PA	$53,281±$20kHighest 32% below PA
	Gaines and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$206,900±$41kHighest 19% below PA	$188,500±$18kLowest 26% below PA
	Brookfield and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$667±$220Highest 45% below PA	$592±$45Lowest 51% below PA
	Brookfield and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,676Highest 19% below PA	$976Lowest 71% below PA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	70%±46.2Highest PA: 48.2%	43.5%±26.9Lowest PA: 48.2%
	Brookfield and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Lowest PA: 11.7%	12%Highest PA: 11.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.8%Lowest PA: 69.3%	89.8%Highest PA: 69.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 6 yrs newer than PA	1980Highest 15 yrs newer than PA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above PA	24 minLowest 8% below PA
Work from home	15.7%±13.3Highest PA: 15.6%	13%±6.5Lowest PA: 15.6%
	Brookfield and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

PA 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.