Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Ashfield vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k 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 | Buzzards Bay | Ashfield | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,909 |
1,893Lowest |
3,460Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
52.4±2.1Lowest 31% above MA |
| Ashfield and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Brookfield and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% MA: 47.3% |
52%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,500±$28kHighest 19% below MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$5,092 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield and Buzzards Bay 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 | — | — | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mohawk Trail | Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.