Compare towns

Ware vs Holyoke vs Ware

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 people working from home (16.6%).
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
Ware has the most homeowners (72.3%).

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.

MeasureWareHolyokeWare
People
Population
6,369Lowest
37,813Highest
10,048
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.6%
MA: +7.4%
-4.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.8±6Lowest
about the MA average
40±1.6
about the MA average
43.1±4.7Highest
8% above MA
Ware and Holyoke 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%
21.4%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
19.1%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Ware and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.4%±3.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.1%±1.6
MA: 17.9%
20.6%±3.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
Ware and Holyoke 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%
25.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
3.4%±0.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±2.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
Ware 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
$53,605±$3k
48% below MA
$67,475±$15kHighest
35% below MA
Ware and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$253,400±$31kLowest
55% below MA
$274,100±$8k
51% below MA
$289,700±$28kHighest
48% below MA
Ware and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,039±$104
41% below MA
$1,021±$60Lowest
42% below MA
$1,043±$109Highest
41% below MA
Ware 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
$4,065
32% below MA
$4,237Highest
29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±17.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
51.7%±5.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
64.3%±16.2
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.1%
MA: 10%
27%Highest
MA: 10%
11.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.4%
MA: 62.5%
41.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
72.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1950
14 yrs older than MA
1960Highest
4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
9% below MA
19 minLowest
34% below MA
28 minHighest
about the MA average
Work from home
16.6%±5Highest
MA: 18.6%
11.1%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
Ware 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 #267 of 282 in MA #281 of 282 in MA #267 of 282 in MA
School district — Holyoke · Springfield Ware
High school in town — Holyoke High Ware Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.5Highest
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.