Compare towns
Ware vs Webster vs Ware 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).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
West Brookfield has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Webster | Ware | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,369 |
12,228Highest |
10,048 |
3,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6 about the MA average |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Webster 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% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
18.8% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
34%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$63,837±$8k 39% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$95,613±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$354,000±$21kHighest 37% below MA |
| West Brookfield and Webster 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 |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,236±$271Highest 30% below MA |
| West Brookfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,408 43% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,260Highest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.1% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
8.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Ware | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.