Compare towns
Bolton vs Ware vs Duxbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Duxbury has the most expensive homes ($365k median).
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 | Bolton | Ware | Duxbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
10,048Highest |
1,548 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 7% below U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.5±4.4 4% below U.S. |
| Ware and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Duxbury and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$105,208±$25k 30% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42k 6% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$364,600±$27kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Duxbury and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 8% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,318±$407Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Duxbury and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826 55% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$6,564Highest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.2%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Duxbury 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 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Ware | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Harwood Union Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.