What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).

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	Webster
People
Population	4,760Lowest	12,228Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA	37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA
	North Brookfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Webster and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%	15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	North Brookfield and Webster 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%	18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Webster 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±$11kHighest 24% below MA	$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA
	North Brookfield and Webster 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	$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA
	North Brookfield and Webster 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	$1,198±$85Highest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,176Highest 30% below MA	$3,234Lowest 46% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±15.8Highest MA: 51.8%	46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Brookfield and Webster 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%	16%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 28% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6%	7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	North Brookfield and Webster 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	#271 of 282 in MA
School district	North Brookfield	—
High school in town	North Brookfield High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	5.5	—
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.