Compare towns
Ware vs Warren 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 affordable homes ($253k median).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Warren | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369Highest |
5,009 |
3,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6 about the MA average |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
34%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Warren 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 |
$66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
$95,613±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$354,000±$21kHighest 37% below MA |
| West Brookfield and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,236±$271Highest 30% below MA |
| West Brookfield and Ware 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 |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$4,260 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
8.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quaboag Regional | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Quaboag Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.