Compare towns
Heath vs Ware vs Warren vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Ware has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Heath | Ware | Warren | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765Lowest |
6,369Highest |
5,009 |
915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
58±5.8Highest 45% above MA |
| Goshen and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.4%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
47.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Goshen and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
$98,906±$10kHighest 5% below MA |
| Goshen and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$351,900±$25kHighest 37% below MA |
| Goshen and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,039±$104Highest 41% below MA |
$890±$174 49% below MA |
$869±$727Lowest 51% below MA |
| Ware and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
$5,022Highest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±66.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
88.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.1%±7.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Goshen 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 | — | — | Quaboag Regional | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Quaboag Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.