Compare towns
Florida vs Middlefield vs Ware vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($371k 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 | Florida | Middlefield | Ware | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 668 |
352Lowest |
6,369Highest |
526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.3% MA: 47.3% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Florida and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,875±$17k 16% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
| Washington and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
12.2% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
27 min 9% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Middlefield 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Florida | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.