Compare towns
Brookfield vs Lee vs Plainfield vs Lincoln
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 (27.3%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Lee | Plainfield | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
5,719Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Brookfield 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% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Lincoln 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 |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$365,200±$30kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 31% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 46% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Lincoln 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Lee | — | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.