Compare towns
Lancaster vs Ware vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Lancaster | Ware | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
6,369 |
5,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Lancaster and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 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+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.