Compare towns
Warren vs Putnam vs Ware vs North 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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ware has the most homeowners (72.3%).
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 | Putnam | Ware | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
9,292 |
10,048Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| North Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Brookfield 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±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$79,285±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
| North Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k about the U.S. average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$359,100±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| 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 37% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$981±$63 31% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,176 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Brookfield 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #267 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Putnam School District | Ware | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Putnam High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
9.5 |
11.1Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.