Compare towns
Chester 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
Chester has the highest household income ($89k).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k 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 | Chester | Ware | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240Lowest |
10,048Highest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Chester and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$333,700±$35kHighest 41% below MA |
| Warren and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71Highest 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Chester and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522 25% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Warren 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 | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gateway | Ware | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
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.