Compare towns
Spencer vs Ware vs Warwick vs Fairhaven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).
Fairhaven has the most expensive homes ($447k 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 | Spencer | Ware | Warwick | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008 |
10,048 |
776Lowest |
15,903Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
0%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
51.4±7.3Highest 29% above MA |
48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
| Warwick and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Fairhaven 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Fairhaven 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$93,333±$22k 10% below MA |
$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA |
| Fairhaven and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,367±$163Highest 22% below MA |
$1,118±$79 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387Highest 27% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Warwick 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 | — | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Ware | Warwick | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.1 |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.