Compare towns
North Brookfield vs Sutton vs Ware vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Brookfield has the most renters (30.7% rent).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% 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 | North Brookfield | Sutton | Ware | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,760Lowest |
9,452 |
10,048Highest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
| North Brookfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| North Brookfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$94,191±$21k 9% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,189±$85 33% below MA |
| Sutton and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 28% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Blackstone 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 | #270 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Brookfield | Sutton | Ware | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | North Brookfield High | Sutton High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5Lowest |
12.6 |
11.1 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.