Compare towns
Unity vs Ware vs Winchendon vs Acworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Winchendon has the most expensive homes ($324k median).
Acworth has the most kids (25.9% under 18).
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 | Unity | Ware | Winchendon | Acworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375 |
10,048 |
10,440Highest |
851Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.3±14.5 22% above U.S. |
| Unity and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
25.9%±16.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Acworth and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±9.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acworth and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
$82,917±$5k about the U.S. average |
| Unity and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average |
$273,000±$34kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Winchendon and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
$1,352±$291 4% below U.S. |
| Unity and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,780Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$4,695 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Winchendon 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 | #269 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Unity School District | Ware | Winchendon | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Murdock High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.