Compare towns

North Brookfield vs Woonsocket 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 highest household income ($79k).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).

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.

MeasureNorth BrookfieldWoonsocketWare
People
Population
4,760Lowest
43,521Highest
10,048
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.2±9.4Highest
16% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
North Brookfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.7%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ware 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
24%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket 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±$11kHighest
about the U.S. average
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$67,475±$15k
16% below U.S.
North Brookfield and Ware 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.
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
$289,700±$28kLowest
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$981±$63Lowest
31% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Highest
18% below U.S.
$1,043±$109
26% below U.S.
Woonsocket and Ware 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.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$4,237Highest
36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±15.8
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953
27 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1960Highest
20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
North Brookfield and Ware 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 #37 of 38 in RI #267 of 282 in MA
School district North Brookfield RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Ware
High school in town North Brookfield High Woonsocket High School Ware Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
5.5Lowest
15.2Highest
11.1
On TownTapestry
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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.