Compare towns

Otis vs Sandisfield vs Ware

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Sandisfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).

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.

MeasureOtisSandisfieldWare
People
Population
1,624
994Lowest
10,048Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
51±3.2Highest
28% above MA
49.9±7.5
25% above MA
43.1±4.7Lowest
8% above MA
Otis and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.1%±4.8
MA: 19.4%
14%±2.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.1%±3.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Ware and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28%±3.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
28%±5.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.6%±3.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
26%
MA: 47.3%
24%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.8%±4.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
Sandisfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,898±$6kHighest
5% above MA
$91,111±$23k
12% below MA
$67,475±$15kLowest
35% below MA
Otis and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$396,700±$40kHighest
29% below MA
$360,300±$34k
36% below MA
$289,700±$28kLowest
48% below MA
Otis and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,318±$924Highest
25% below MA
$1,250±$220
29% below MA
$1,043±$109Lowest
41% below MA
Otis and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,408Lowest
60% below MA
$3,328
44% below MA
$4,237Highest
29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
66.7%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
64.3%±16.2
MA: 51.8%
Sandisfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
3.2%
MA: 10%
11.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%
MA: 62.5%
96.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
72.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1978Highest
14 yrs newer than MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
15% above MA
31 min
8% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
22.3%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.5%±8
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Otis and Sandisfield 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 Farmington River Reg — Ware
High school in town None 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.