Compare towns
North Brookfield vs Hatfield vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Brookfield has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Hatfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Brookfield has the most homeowners (87.5%).
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 | North Brookfield | Hatfield | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,760Highest |
3,325Lowest |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±9.4Lowest 13% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
| Brookfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| North Brookfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA |
$81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
| Hatfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
$1,014±$161 42% below MA |
| Hatfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$5,092Highest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±15.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
| North Brookfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 28% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hatfield and North 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 | #270 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Brookfield | Hatfield | Brookfield |
| High school in town | North Brookfield High | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5Lowest |
6.1Highest |
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| 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.