Compare towns

Gill vs Ware vs Montague

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Montague has the oldest population (median age 44.3).

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.

MeasureGillWareMontague
People
Population
1,740Lowest
6,369
8,482Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+1.7%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±2.6
9% above MA
39.8±6Lowest
about the MA average
44.3±3.1Highest
11% above MA
Montague and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±8.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.3%±4.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
19%±2.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Ware and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±1.7
MA: 17.9%
17.4%±3.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
23.5%±3.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Montague and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
15.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
37.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.1%±2.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Gill and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$90,208±$14kHighest
13% below MA
$45,158±$11kLowest
57% below MA
$70,510±$12k
32% below MA
Gill and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$340,100±$17kHighest
39% below MA
$253,400±$31kLowest
55% below MA
$282,100±$17k
50% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$246
32% below MA
$1,039±$104Lowest
41% below MA
$1,207±$115Highest
31% below MA
Montague and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,318Highest
28% below MA
$3,408Lowest
43% below MA
$3,922
35% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.7%±10.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
64.5%±17.3
MA: 51.8%
64.6%±8.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
Montague and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
14.1%Highest
MA: 10%
11.5%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
62.7%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
4 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1951
13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
29% below MA
27 minHighest
9% below MA
21 min
28% below MA
Work from home
14.9%±8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
16.6%±5Highest
MA: 18.6%
14.9%±4.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Ware and Gill 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 #265 of 282 in MA
School district Gill-Montague — Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague
High school in town None in town — Franklin County Technical
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.7
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.