Compare towns
Warren vs Middlesex vs West Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
West Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.5).
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 | Middlesex | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,009Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
58.5±3.2Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Warren 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 18% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$95,613±$12k 18% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35kLowest about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$354,000±$21k 6% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,236±$271 13% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 45% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,260Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.3%±18.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Brookfield and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±15 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and West 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 | — | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.