Compare towns
Acworth vs Ware vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acworth has the most kids (25.9% under 18).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
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 | Acworth | Ware | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 851Lowest |
10,048Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.5 22% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.9%±16.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Acworth and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±9.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acworth and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,917±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Acworth and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,000±$34k 18% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Ware and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$291Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— |
| Acworth and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,695 51% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Alstead 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 | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Ware | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.