Compare towns
Freedom vs Ware vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Washington has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Freedom | Ware | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494 |
10,048Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55±4.7 41% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Washington and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,000±$43kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,106±$160Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Washington and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,321Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freedom and Washington 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 | Freedom School District | Ware | Washington School District |
| 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.