Compare towns
Jefferson vs Ware vs Carroll
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Carroll has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Jefferson | Ware | Carroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013 |
10,048Highest |
659Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5 49% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.4±4.8Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Carroll and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carroll and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$64,821±$26kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Ware and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$261,500±$42kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,078±$241Highest 24% below U.S. |
| Carroll and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196 35% above U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,356Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28%±47.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson 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 | — |
| School district | — | Ware | — |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 14 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.