Compare towns
Cheshire vs Ware vs Clarksburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cheshire has the oldest population (median age 53.7).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Clarksburg has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Cheshire | Ware | Clarksburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
10,048Highest |
1,667Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
49.8±7.1 25% above MA |
| Cheshire and Clarksburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.5%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Clarksburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.8%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Cheshire and Clarksburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cheshire and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,803±$14k 33% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$77,143±$11kHighest 26% below MA |
| Clarksburg and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,200±$48k 52% below MA |
$289,700±$28kHighest 48% below MA |
$239,900±$18kLowest 57% below MA |
| Ware and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,125±$190Highest 36% below MA |
| Clarksburg and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,005 50% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$2,993Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
65.2%±56.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Clarksburg and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
5.6%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #274 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Ware | Clarksburg |
| High school in town | Hoosac Valley High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.