What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Brookfield has the most people working from home (13.1%).

Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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	North Brookfield	Springfield
People
Population	4,760Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	North Brookfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,285±$11kHighest 24% below MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$359,100±$32kHighest 36% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA	$1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,176Highest 30% below MA	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±15.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Springfield and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.9%Lowest MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 28% above MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	North Brookfield and Springfield 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	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	North Brookfield	Springfield
High school in town	North Brookfield High	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	5.5Lowest	12.2Highest
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.