What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ware	Brookline
People
Population	6,369Highest	5,736Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average	41.2±1.5Highest 6% above U.S.
	Brookline and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ware and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookline and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S.	$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S.	$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S.	$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ware and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	16.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookline 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	#267 of 282 in MA	#23 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Brookline School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.