Compare towns
Brookfield vs Sturbridge vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Brookfield | Sturbridge | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
9,960 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 15% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Ware 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.