Compare towns

Monroe vs Ware vs Florida

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Florida has the most homeowners (91.3%).

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.

MeasureMonroeWareFlorida
People
Population
122Lowest
6,369Highest
668
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-7.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
60.2±9.9Highest
51% above MA
39.8±6Lowest
about the MA average
56.1±4.4
40% above MA
Monroe and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.4%±28
MA: 19.4%
23.3%±4.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
11.5%±3.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Ware and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.1%±27.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.4%±3.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
30.1%±4.6
MA: 17.9%
Monroe and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.8%
MA: 47.3%
15.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
24.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
9%±18.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±2.6
MA: 7.9%
Monroe and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian —
$45,158±$11kLowest
57% below MA
$86,875±$17kHighest
16% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$165,000±$141kLowest
71% below MA
$253,400±$31kHighest
55% below MA
$246,800±$19k
56% below MA
Ware and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,039±$104Highest
41% below MA
$867±$256Lowest
51% below MA
Ware and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,053
66% below MA
$3,408Highest
43% below MA
$1,894Lowest
68% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
64.5%±17.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
16.7%±100
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
38.5%Highest
MA: 10%
14.1%
MA: 10%
5.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%
MA: 62.5%
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
91.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1978Highest
14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
56 minHighest
93% above MA
27 min
9% below MA
26 minLowest
10% below MA
Work from home
0%±41.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
16.6%±5Highest
MA: 18.6%
6.4%±2.6
MA: 18.6%
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.