Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Brewer 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
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
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 | Sturbridge | Brewer | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
9,652 |
3,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$81,250±$37k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #32 of 133 in ME | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Brewer Public Schools | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
14.0Highest |
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| 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.