Compare towns
Danby vs Ware vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Danby | Ware | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
10,048Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Ware and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Danby 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Ware | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.