Compare towns
West Brookfield vs Upton vs Ware vs Ware
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 (42.6% rent).
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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,859Lowest |
8,189 |
10,048Highest |
6,369 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 13%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Upton 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%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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±$15k 35% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% 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 |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,236±$271Highest 30% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,039±$104 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 |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ware 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% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 44% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±15 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ware | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
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.