Compare towns
Ware vs Middlesex vs Adams 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 youngest population (median age 39.8).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
West Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Middlesex | Adams | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,369 |
1,943Lowest |
8,074Highest |
3,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
47.3±3.3 22% above U.S. |
58.5±3.2Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Adams 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$58,929±$6k 27% below U.S. |
$95,613±$12k 18% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$354,000±$21k 6% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$963±$74Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,236±$271 13% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,638 17% above U.S. |
$4,260 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.3%±18.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Adams 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±15 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #230 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hoosac Valley Regional | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.