Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Easthampton vs West 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 the most expensive homes ($455k median).
Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
West Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.5).
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 | Easthampton | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,909Lowest |
16,086Highest |
3,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
46±2.6Lowest 15% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
| West Brookfield 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% |
15.5%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Easthampton and West Brookfield 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% |
23.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Brookfield 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$95,613±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| West Brookfield and Buzzards Bay 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 |
$371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$354,000±$21kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,236±$271Lowest 30% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Easthampton 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 |
$4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$4,260 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Easthampton and Buzzards Bay 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% |
8% MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15 MA: 18.6% |
| Easthampton and West 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 | — | #92 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Easthampton | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Easthampton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.