Compare towns
Vershire 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
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Vershire | Ware | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 842Lowest |
10,048Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±9.3 17% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Vershire and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Vershire and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,618±$12k 11% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,100±$55kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$80 21% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,640 49% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Vershire and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Vershire 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 | — | Ware | Strafford School District |
| High school 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.