Compare towns
Florida vs Ware vs Charlemont
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 highest household income ($87k).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Charlemont has the most expensive homes ($306k 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 | Ware | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 668Lowest |
6,369Highest |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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±$17kHighest 16% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$53,063±$12k 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$305,500±$52kHighest 46% below MA |
| Charlemont 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 |
$1,039±$104Highest 41% below MA |
$1,023±$126 42% below MA |
| Ware and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$4,351Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Charlemont 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% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Charlemont 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 | — | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.