Compare towns
Sandisfield vs Ware vs Ware vs Monterey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandisfield has the most homeowners (96.4%).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Monterey has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.9%).
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 | Sandisfield | Ware | Ware | Monterey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 994 |
6,369 |
10,048Highest |
954Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+13.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.9±7.5 25% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
62.3±14Highest 56% above MA |
| Monterey and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 28%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
43.5%±13.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Monterey and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
64.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±4.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±4.9 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 | $91,111±$23k 12% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$152,353±$89kHighest 47% above MA |
| Monterey and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,300±$34k 36% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$603,200±$57kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,250±$220 29% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,762±$128Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,328 44% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$2,858Lowest 52% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±85.1Lowest 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 | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
87.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±8 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±16.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Monterey 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 | #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 | 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.