Compare towns
Ware vs Needham vs Orange vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
North Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
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 | Needham | Orange | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,369 |
32,459Highest |
7,573 |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
| North Brookfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Orange 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+ | 15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7% MA: 47.3% |
26.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 | $45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$55,824±$10k 46% below MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$981±$63 44% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$4,176 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.1% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
12.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
9.0 |
5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.