Compare towns
Spencer vs Ware vs Ware vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Charlton has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Spencer | Ware | Ware | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008 |
6,369Lowest |
10,048 |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43±4 8% above MA |
| Spencer and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$427,500±$19kHighest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA |
| Charlton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 27% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,617Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest 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 | 11% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
84.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | — | Ware | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | 11.1Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.