Compare towns

Elmore vs Lancaster vs 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

Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 47).

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.

MeasureElmoreLancasterBrookfield
People
Population
964Lowest
8,606Highest
1,486
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45±3.5
16% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
47±5.9Highest
21% above U.S.
Brookfield and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Elmore and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.6%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,750±$24k
22% above U.S.
$134,833±$27kHighest
67% above U.S.
$98,500±$23kLowest
22% above U.S.
Lancaster and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,800±$47kLowest
5% below U.S.
$519,100±$60kHighest
56% above U.S.
$339,300±$15k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,225±$263
13% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$975±$306Lowest
31% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,066
62% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$4,560Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±65.8
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.4%±27.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
Work from home
9.4%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster and 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 — #145 of 282 in MA —
School district Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 Nashoba Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.