Compare towns

Windham vs Ware vs Brookline

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).

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.

MeasureWindhamWareBrookline
People
Population
594
6,369Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
39.8±6Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.1±2.7Highest
16% above U.S.
Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
Ware and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Ware and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
$45,158±$11kLowest
44% below U.S.
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$253,400±$31kLowest
24% below U.S.
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,039±$104Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$3,408Lowest
9% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±17.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
57.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Windham 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 — #267 of 282 in MA —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.