Compare towns
Ware vs Phillipston vs West 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 kids (23.3% under 18).
Phillipston has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Phillipston | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369Highest |
1,895Lowest |
3,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
48.8±1.7 22% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±5 MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Phillipston 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% |
17.9%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.4% MA: 47.3% |
34%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Phillipston 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 57% below MA |
$94,692±$14k 9% below MA |
$95,613±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| West Brookfield and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$372,400±$27kHighest 34% below MA |
$354,000±$21k 37% below MA |
| Phillipston 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±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,375±$849Highest 22% below MA |
$1,236±$271 30% below MA |
| Phillipston 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 43% below MA |
$3,914 35% below MA |
$4,260Highest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15Highest MA: 18.6% |
| West 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.