Compare towns
Ryegate vs Ware vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Barnet has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Ryegate | Ware | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,059Lowest |
10,048Highest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Barnet and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$67,386±$15k 17% below U.S. |
| Ware and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
| Ware and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Highest 26% below U.S. |
$974±$72 31% below U.S. |
| Ware and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,489Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnet 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 | — |
| School district | — | Ware | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.