Compare towns
Ware vs Putnam vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k 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 | Ware | Putnam | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369 |
9,292Highest |
5,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Ware 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam 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 44% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$66,082±$6k 18% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,530Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.0Highest |
| 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.