Compare towns
Warren vs Worcester vs Ware 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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
West Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Worcester | Ware | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
831Lowest |
6,369Highest |
3,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
58.5±3.2Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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±$6k 18% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$95,613±$12kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| West Brookfield and Worcester 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 |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$354,000±$21kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West 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. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,236±$271Highest 13% below U.S. |
| West Brookfield 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,260 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.3%±18.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±15 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #267 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 | 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.