Compare towns
Barre vs Ware vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Warren has the most renters (35.5% 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 | Barre | Ware | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
10,048Highest |
5,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Barre and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Warren and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
| Barre and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$1,043±$109Highest 41% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Ware and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Barre 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Ware | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.1 |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.