Compare towns
Cheshire vs Everett vs East Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Cheshire | Everett | East Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
50,045Highest |
2,166Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
52.1±6.4 30% above MA |
| Cheshire and East Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Cheshire and East Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,803±$14kLowest 33% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$81,042±$16k 22% below MA |
| Everett and East Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$381,200±$30k 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,142±$33Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,430 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
34.2%±39.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and East Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.3%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Everett and East 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 | #274 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Everett | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Hoosac Valley High School | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.