Compare towns
Heath vs Ware vs Warwick vs Charlemont
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 most kids (19.1% under 18).
Warwick has the most expensive homes ($349k median).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Warwick | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765Lowest |
10,048Highest |
776 |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
51.4±7.3 29% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and Heath 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.5% MA: 47.3% |
29% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$93,333±$22k 10% below MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Heath and Warwick 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$349,400±$34kHighest 38% below MA |
$305,500±$52k 46% below MA |
| Warwick and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,367±$163Highest 22% below MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438Highest 26% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
$4,351 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Warwick 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 | — | Ware | Warwick | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.