Compare towns
Florida vs Middlefield vs Ware
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 (+2%).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 668 |
352Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Middlefield and Florida 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Florida and Middlefield 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Florida 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Middlefield and Florida 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±$48kHighest 41% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Middlefield and Ware 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 |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Florida | — | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.