Compare towns
Monkton vs Townsend vs Middlesex 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
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Middlesex has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($339k 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 | Monkton | Townsend | Middlesex | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,999 |
9,100Highest |
1,943 |
1,486Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±5.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
| Monkton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,688±$28k 48% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $379,900±$18k 14% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$339,300±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,301±$120 8% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,887 89% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,560Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±64Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monkton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
37 min 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | North Middlesex | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.