Compare towns
Tunbridge vs Ware vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Tunbridge | Ware | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,253Lowest |
10,048Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±8.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,464±$26k 11% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,300±$23k 5% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,346±$128Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Tunbridge and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,645 49% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Tunbridge and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Tunbridge and Strafford 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Ware | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.