Compare towns
Warren vs Ayer vs Ware 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
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Warren | Ayer | Ware | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
8,645 |
10,048Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
| North Brookfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Warren and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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+ | 23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
26.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
| Ayer and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$981±$63 44% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 24% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and North 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Ayer Shirley School District | Ware | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
11.5Highest |
11.1 |
5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.