Compare towns
Warren vs Dalton 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
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Warren | Dalton | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,009 |
6,256Highest |
3,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
| West Brookfield and Dalton 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% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Warren and Dalton 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% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Brookfield and Dalton 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% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Warren and Dalton 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 |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$95,613±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| West Brookfield and Dalton 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 |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% 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 | $890±$174 49% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,236±$271Highest 30% below MA |
| West Brookfield and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$4,260Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dalton and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15Highest MA: 18.6% |
| West Brookfield and Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Central Berkshire | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— |
| 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.