Compare towns
Monroe vs Ware vs Florida vs Rowe
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 (12.3%).
Florida has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Monroe | Ware | Florida | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 122Lowest |
10,048Highest |
668 |
453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
24.3% MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$86,875±$17kHighest 16% below MA |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
| Florida and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$289,700±$28kHighest 48% below MA |
$246,800±$19k 56% below MA |
$275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
| Ware and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
| Rowe and Ware 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 |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$1,894 68% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
15.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 56 minHighest 93% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
36 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Rowe 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 | — | Ware | Florida | Rowe |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.