Compare towns

Ware vs Harvard vs Warren

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).

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.

MeasureWareHarvardWarren
People
Population
6,369
6,927Highest
5,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.6%
MA: +7.4%
+5.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.8±6
about the MA average
44.1±4.7Highest
10% above MA
38.7±7.3Lowest
3% below MA
Harvard and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.3%±4.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±4.5
MA: 19.4%
20.8%±8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Ware and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.4%±3.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.3%±2.8
MA: 17.9%
14.6%±4.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Ware and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
62%Highest
MA: 47.3%
23.2%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Harvard and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$45,158±$11kLowest
57% below MA
$213,996±$24kHighest
106% above MA
$66,082±$6k
36% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$253,400±$31kLowest
55% below MA
$833,600±$54kHighest
48% above MA
$333,700±$35k
41% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,039±$104
41% below MA
$1,321±$424Highest
25% below MA
$890±$174Lowest
49% below MA
Harvard and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,408Lowest
43% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$4,530
24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±17.3
MA: 51.8%
72.5%±51.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
29.7%±18.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Harvard and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.1%Highest
MA: 10%
4.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
64.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
9% below MA
32 min
9% above MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
Work from home
16.6%±5
MA: 18.6%
44.8%±6.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.5%±5.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #267 of 282 in MA #12 of 282 in MA #165 of 282 in MA
School district — Harvard Quaboag Regional
High school in town — The Bromfield High School Quaboag Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.0Highest
10.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 12 photos → 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.