Compare towns
Brookfield vs Lancaster vs Plainfield vs Tunbridge
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 homeowners (87.9%).
Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Tunbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Lancaster | Plainfield | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
8,606Highest |
1,314 |
1,253Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
42.7±8.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Tunbridge and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Tunbridge and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$89,464±$26k 11% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$315,300±$23kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,346±$128 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,645 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Tunbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Nashoba | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.