Compare towns
Charlton vs Epping vs East Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
East Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Charlton | Epping | East Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,435Highest |
7,430 |
2,166Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
52.1±6.4Highest 34% above U.S. |
| East Brookfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| East Brookfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
27%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$81,042±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Charlton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$381,200±$30kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Epping and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,381±$415 about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,142±$33Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Epping and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,617 48% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,430Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.2%±39.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Charlton 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 | #133 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Epping School District | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.