Compare towns
North Brookfield vs Putnam 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
North Brookfield has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Putnam | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,760 |
9,292Highest |
3,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,285±$11k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$81,250±$37kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,100±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
| North Brookfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,014±$161 28% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,176 34% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,092Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Brookfield 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 | #270 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Brookfield | Putnam School District | Brookfield |
| High school in town | North Brookfield High | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5Lowest |
9.5Highest |
— |
| 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.