Compare towns
Hancock vs Rowe vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the highest household income ($96k).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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.
| Measure | Hancock | Rowe | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 752 |
453Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±11.1 18% above MA |
48.9±6.4Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Rowe and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5.3 MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.2% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$26kHighest 7% below MA |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Hancock and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,500±$21kHighest 33% below MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,268±$415 28% below MA |
$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Rowe and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
$1,458 76% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±36.3 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 25% below MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Hancock 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 | Hancock | Rowe | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.