Compare towns
Warren vs Gardner 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).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
North Brookfield has the highest household income ($79k).
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 | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
21,148Highest |
10,048 |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
| North Brookfield and Gardner 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% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Warren 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% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner 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±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$79,285±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
| North Brookfield and Gardner 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 |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$359,100±$32kHighest 36% below MA |
| North Brookfield and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$981±$63 44% 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 | $4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,176 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
12.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and North Brookfield 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 | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Gardner | Ware | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Gardner High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
13.5Highest |
11.1 |
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.