Compare towns
Warren vs Berlin vs Ware vs Brimfield
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).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Brimfield has the most homeowners (87.5%).
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 | Berlin | Ware | Brimfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
3,378Lowest |
10,048Highest |
3,705 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.7±5.3 9% above MA |
| Berlin and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Brimfield and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Brimfield 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% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$111,250±$22k 7% above MA |
| Berlin and Brimfield 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 |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$389,100±$27k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174 49% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 24% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,128 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±25.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #165 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #108 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Berlin-Boylston | Ware | Brimfield |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.