Compare towns
Warren vs Oakham 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 most renters (35.5% rent).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Brimfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Oakham | Ware | Brimfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
1,639Lowest |
10,048Highest |
3,705 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.7±5.3 9% above MA |
| Oakham and Brimfield 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% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Brimfield 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Brimfield and Oakham 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% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Oakham 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 |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$111,250±$22kHighest 7% above MA |
| Brimfield and Oakham 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 |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$389,100±$27k 31% below MA |
| Oakham and Brimfield 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 |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
| Oakham 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 |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,128Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Brimfield and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #108 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Quabbin | Ware | Brimfield |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.