Compare towns
Lee vs Ware vs West Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
West Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Lee | Ware | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
10,048Highest |
3,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
| West Brookfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Brookfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$95,613±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| West Brookfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$354,000±$21kHighest 37% below MA |
| West Brookfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,236±$271 30% below MA |
| Lee and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,260Highest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15Highest MA: 18.6% |
| West Brookfield and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Ware | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
11.1Highest |
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| 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.