Compare towns
West Brookfield vs Sutton vs Ware vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.5).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | West Brookfield | Sutton | Ware | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,859Lowest |
9,452 |
10,048Highest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
| West Brookfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,613±$12k 8% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $354,000±$21k 37% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,236±$271 30% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,334±$318Highest 24% below MA |
| Deerfield and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,260 29% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.3%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 44% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±15 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #162 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Sutton | Ware | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.