What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Brookfield has the shortest commute (32 min average).

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	West Brookfield	Brookfield
People
Population	3,859Highest	3,460Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA	52.4±2.1Lowest 31% above MA
Kids under 18	13%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	13.4%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Brookfield and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9%	28.4%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	West Brookfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Highest MA: 47.3%	28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,613±$12kHighest 8% below MA	$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA
	West Brookfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$354,000±$21kHighest 37% below MA	$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA
	West Brookfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,236±$271Highest 30% below MA	$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA
	West Brookfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,260Lowest 29% below MA	$5,092Highest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Brookfield and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 44% above MA	32 minLowest 11% above MA
Work from home	18.9%±15Highest MA: 18.6%	12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	West Brookfield 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	#162 of 282 in MA	#109 of 282 in MA
School district	Quaboag Regional	Brookfield
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.