Compare towns
Warren vs Dover 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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Dover | Ware | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
5,930 |
6,369Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
| North Brookfield and Dover 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Ware 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% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| North Brookfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$981±$63 44% below MA |
| Dover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,176 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest 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% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
12.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #165 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
9.8 |
— | 5.5Lowest |
| 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.