Compare towns

Warren 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).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
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.

MeasureWarrenWareNorth Brookfield
People
Population
5,009
10,048Highest
4,760Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±7.3Lowest
3% below MA
43.1±4.7
8% above MA
45.2±9.4Highest
13% above MA
North Brookfield and Ware 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%
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%
20.6%±3.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.7%±5
MA: 17.9%
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%Lowest
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%
4.4%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
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
36% below MA
$67,475±$15k
35% below MA
$79,285±$11kHighest
24% below MA
North Brookfield and Ware 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
$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
$1,043±$109Highest
41% below MA
$981±$63
44% below MA
Ware and North Brookfield 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
$4,237
29% below MA
$4,176Lowest
30% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.7%±18.4Lowest
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%
11.8%
MA: 10%
12.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%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
1960
4 yrs older than MA
1953Lowest
11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
13% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
37 minHighest
28% above MA
Work from home
8.5%±5.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
13.1%±4.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
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 #267 of 282 in MA #270 of 282 in MA
School district Quaboag Regional Ware North Brookfield
High school in town Quaboag Regional High Ware Junior/Senior High School North Brookfield High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.0
11.1Highest
5.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.