Compare towns
Florida vs Ware vs Middlefield
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).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($333k 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 | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 668 |
6,369Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$332,800±$48kHighest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
12.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 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 |
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.