Compare towns

North Brookfield vs Springfield 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 people working from home (13.1%).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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.

MeasureNorth BrookfieldSpringfieldBrookfield
People
Population
4,760
154,749Highest
3,460Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.4%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.2±9.4
13% above MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
52.4±2.1Highest
31% above MA
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
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
13.4%±4.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
18.7%±5
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
28.4%±5.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
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%
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
28.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±2.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±3.2
MA: 7.9%
Springfield and 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
24% below MA
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$81,250±$37kHighest
22% below MA
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
36% below MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$341,900±$23k
39% below MA
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
44% below MA
$1,144±$55Highest
35% below MA
$1,014±$161
42% below MA
Springfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,176
30% below MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$5,092Highest
15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±15.8
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
50.7%±11.7Lowest
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%
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
8.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.3%
MA: 62.5%
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
87.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953
11 yrs older than MA
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
28% above MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
32 min
11% above MA
Work from home
13.1%±4.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
12%±5.5
MA: 18.6%
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 #276 of 282 in MA #109 of 282 in MA
School district North Brookfield Springfield Brookfield
High school in town North Brookfield High Springfield Central High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
5.5Lowest
12.2Highest
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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.