Compare towns
Monroe vs Ware vs Ware vs New Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
New Ashford has the most expensive homes ($391k median).
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 | Monroe | Ware | Ware | New Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 122Lowest |
6,369 |
10,048Highest |
257 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
57.1±3.6 43% above MA |
| Monroe and New Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±28 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
8.6%±6.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±27.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
34.2%±8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| New Ashford and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
41.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±6.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe and New Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$102,188±$30kHighest about the MA average |
| New Ashford and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$390,700±$50kHighest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,043±$109Highest 41% below MA |
$960±$113Lowest 46% below MA |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,053Lowest 66% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,196 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 56 minHighest 93% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
17.1%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| New Ashford 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 | #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 | 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.