Compare towns
North Brookfield vs Thompson vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($359k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% 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 | Thompson | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,760Lowest |
9,337 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Thompson and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Thompson and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,100±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Highest 26% below U.S. |
| Ware and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,176 34% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #270 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Brookfield | Thompson School District | Ware |
| High school in town | North Brookfield High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5Lowest |
7.9 |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.