Compare towns
Townsend vs Ware vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Townsend | Ware | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
10,048Highest |
1,065Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.8±6.4Highest 12% above MA |
| Windsor and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
| Townsend and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
| Townsend and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Ware | — |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.