Compare towns
North Brookfield vs Ware vs Barre
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 oldest population (median age 45.2).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Ware | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,760Lowest |
6,369Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
| North Brookfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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%±5 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and North Brookfield 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and North Brookfield 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
| Barre and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,039±$104Highest 41% below MA |
$1,030±$713 42% below MA |
| Ware and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,176 30% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.9% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 28% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and North Brookfield 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Brookfield | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | North Brookfield High | — | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| 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.