Compare towns
Paxton vs Ware vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paxton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Paxton | Ware | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
6,369 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
| Ware and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 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+ | 18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8kHighest 29% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Highest 19% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 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 | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | — | 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.