Compare towns
Heath vs Ware vs Warren vs Rowe
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 most expensive homes ($334k median).
Rowe has the most homeowners (90.8%).
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 | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
6,369Highest |
5,009 |
453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
23%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Rowe 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% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
26.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
| Heath and Rowe 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±$35kHighest 41% below MA |
$275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
| Warren and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
| Rowe and Ware 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 |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Heath 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% MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%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 |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Ware 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 | Rowe |
| High school in town | — | — | Quaboag Regional High | None in town |
| 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.