Compare towns
Warren vs Gardner 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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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 | Gardner | Ware | Brimfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
21,148Highest |
6,369 |
3,705Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
43.7±5.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Brimfield and Gardner 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% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Ware 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 |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$111,250±$22kHighest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% 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 |
$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
| Gardner 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 |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,128Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest 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% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Brimfield 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #108 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Gardner | — | Brimfield |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Gardner High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— | — |
| 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.