Compare towns
Pawlet vs Ware vs Whitingham vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Leicester has the most expensive homes ($310k 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 | Pawlet | Ware | Whitingham | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,480 |
10,048Highest |
1,368 |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
48.8±3.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Leicester and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$70,417±$30k 13% below U.S. |
| Whitingham and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$309,700±$107kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Leicester and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,098±$300 22% below U.S. |
| Pawlet and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924 26% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pawlet and Leicester 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 | Mettawee School District #84 | Ware | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Twin Valley Middle High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
7.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.