What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Whately	Brookfield
People
Population	1,499Lowest	3,460Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±6.7Lowest 23% above MA	52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA
	Brookfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Whately and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Brookfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Brookfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA	$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA
	Whately and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA	$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA	$1,014±$161Highest 42% below MA
	Brookfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,027Lowest 16% below MA	$5,092Highest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Brookfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	87.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6%	12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Whately 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	—	#109 of 282 in MA
School district	Whately	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.