Compare towns

Ware vs Warren vs Winchendon

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
Winchendon has the most homeowners (76.6%).

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.

MeasureWareWarrenWinchendon
People
Population
6,369
5,009Lowest
10,440Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+0.6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.8±6Highest
about the MA average
38.7±7.3Lowest
3% below MA
39.6±1.9
about the MA average
Ware and Winchendon 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%
20.8%±8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±3.9
MA: 19.4%
Ware and Winchendon 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%
14.6%±4.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
16.9%±2.7
MA: 17.9%
Ware and Winchendon 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%
23.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
21.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±1.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Winchendon 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
$66,082±$6k
36% below MA
$75,690±$14kHighest
27% below MA
Winchendon 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
55% below MA
$333,700±$35kHighest
41% below MA
$323,800±$19k
42% below MA
Warren and Winchendon 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
$890±$174Lowest
49% below MA
$1,255±$163Highest
29% below MA
Winchendon 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
$4,530Highest
24% below MA
$3,780
37% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±17.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
29.7%±18.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
61.7%±17.6
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.1%
MA: 10%
9%Lowest
MA: 10%
18.5%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
64.5%
MA: 62.5%
76.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
9% below MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
32 min
11% above MA
Work from home
16.6%±5Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.5%±5.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
11.2%±3.1
MA: 18.6%
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 #165 of 282 in MA #269 of 282 in MA
School district — Quaboag Regional Winchendon
High school in town — Quaboag Regional High Murdock High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.0Lowest
11.3Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.