What stands out worked out from the figures below

Union has the most kids (16.9% under 18).

Brookfield has the most people working from home (12%).

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	Union	Brookfield
People
Population	944Lowest	3,460Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.9±4.3Lowest 28% above U.S.	52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S.
	Brookfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Union and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brookfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,958±$14kHighest 10% above U.S.	$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average
	Union and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average	$341,900±$23kHighest about the U.S. average
	Brookfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,014±$161 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S.	$5,092Highest 63% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.7%±11.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Union and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookfield and Union 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	—	#109 of 282 in MA
School district	Union School District	Brookfield
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.