Compare towns
West Brookfield vs Upton vs Ware vs Cheshire
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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Upton | Ware | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,859 |
8,189 |
10,048Highest |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
53.7±4.5 34% above MA |
| West Brookfield and Cheshire 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
| West Brookfield and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cheshire 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$69,803±$14k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $354,000±$21k 37% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,236±$271Highest 30% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
— |
| West Brookfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,260 29% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.3%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest 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 |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 44% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 18.9%±15 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #274 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ware | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Hoosac Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
11.1 |
10.5Lowest |
| 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.