Compare towns
West Wareham vs Gardner vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($81k).
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 Wareham | Gardner | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,257Lowest |
21,148Highest |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.6±13Highest 44% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
| West Wareham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±7.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and West Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| West Wareham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±4.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and West Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,560±$15kLowest 44% below MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$81,250±$37kHighest 22% below MA |
| Brookfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,800±$104kLowest 59% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$341,900±$23kHighest 39% below MA |
| Brookfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
| Gardner and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,765 20% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$5,092Highest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
| West Wareham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.9%Highest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| West Wareham and Gardner 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Gardner | Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.