Compare towns
Monterey vs Ware vs Alford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monterey has the highest household income ($152k).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Alford has the most expensive homes ($794k 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 | Monterey | Ware | Alford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 954 |
10,048Highest |
433Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 62.3±14 56% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA |
| Alford and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 43.5%±13.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
43%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Monterey and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
63.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±4.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,353±$89kHighest 47% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$121,042±$11k 16% above MA |
| Monterey and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,200±$57k 7% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA |
| Alford and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,762±$128Highest about the MA average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,750±$1k about the MA average |
| Monterey and Alford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,858Lowest 52% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,913 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±85.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 22% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
26 min 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 23.6%±16.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Monterey and Alford 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 | 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.