Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Mendon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
West Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($354k 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 | Mendon | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,909Lowest |
6,325Highest |
3,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest 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% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12kLowest 9% below MA |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$95,613±$12k 8% below MA |
| Mendon and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$354,000±$21kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,236±$271Lowest 30% below MA |
| Mendon and Buzzards Bay 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 |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$4,260 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon 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% MA: 10% |
7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15Highest MA: 18.6% |
| West Brookfield 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 | — | #210 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mendon-Upton | Quaboag Regional |
| 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.