What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leverett has the most people working from home (28.5%).

Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Leverett	Brookfield
People
Population	1,608Lowest	3,460Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56±6.4Highest 40% above MA	52.4±2.1Lowest 31% above MA
	Leverett and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.7%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Leverett and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%	28.4%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Leverett and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Brookfield and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,688±$18kHighest about the MA average	$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA
	Leverett and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$435,500±$35kHighest 23% below MA	$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,389±$135Highest 21% below MA	$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,779Highest 13% above MA	$5,092Lowest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	10%Highest MA: 10%	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	28.5%±5Highest MA: 18.6%	12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#109 of 282 in MA
School district	Leverett	Brookfield
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.