Compare towns
Florida vs Ware vs Middlefield vs Sandisfield
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 the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
Sandisfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Sandisfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 668 |
6,369Highest |
352Lowest |
994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest 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 |
49.9±7.5 25% 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% |
14%±2.9 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% |
28%±5.6 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% |
26% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.8%±4.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sandisfield 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
$91,111±$23k 12% below MA |
| Middlefield and Sandisfield 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±$48k 41% below MA |
$360,300±$34kHighest 36% below MA |
| Sandisfield 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 |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,250±$220 29% below MA |
| Middlefield and Sandisfield 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 |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$3,328 44% 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% |
66.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
12.2% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
96.4%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 |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Sandisfield 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.