Compare towns
Warren vs Chester 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).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Brimfield has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Chester | Ware | Brimfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
1,240Lowest |
10,048Highest |
3,705 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.7±5.3 9% above MA |
| Chester 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% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±6 MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Brimfield 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% |
16.5%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Brimfield and Ware 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% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Brimfield 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 |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$111,250±$22kHighest 7% above MA |
| Brimfield and Chester 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 |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$389,100±$27kHighest 31% below MA |
| Brimfield and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174 49% below MA |
$1,104±$71Highest 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
| Chester and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 24% below MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,128Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±25.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Brimfield 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #108 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Gateway | 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.