Compare towns
Ware vs Worcester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Worcester | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369Highest |
831Lowest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
19.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Worcester 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$66,082±$6k 18% below U.S. |
| Worcester 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. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Warren and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104Highest 26% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Ware and Worcester 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,530Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Warren 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.