Compare towns
Upton vs Brookfield vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Upton | Brookfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
3,460Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,014±$161 28% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brookfield | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.