Compare towns
Ware vs Brookline vs West Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
West Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.5).
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 | Ware | Brookline | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369Highest |
5,736 |
3,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
58.5±3.2Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1Lowest 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. |
$95,613±$12k 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$354,000±$21k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,236±$271 13% below U.S. |
| Brookline and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,260 37% 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% |
30.3%±18.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and West Brookfield 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% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±15 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and West 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Brookline School District | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.