Compare towns
Union vs Brookfield vs Colebrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the youngest population (median age 49.9).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (12%).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Union | Brookfield | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
3,460Highest |
1,494 |
| 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. |
52.1±5 34% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Colebrook and Union 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% |
26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Colebrook 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%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% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Union 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±$23k about the U.S. average |
$342,800±$19kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest 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 | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.