Compare towns
Leyden vs Ware vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Leyden | Ware | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637Lowest |
10,048 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Leyden and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Leyden and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651Highest 22% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 12% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Leyden 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ware | Webster |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| 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.