Compare towns

Ware vs Central Falls vs Winchendon

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 affordable homes ($290k median).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Winchendon has the highest household income ($76k).

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.

MeasureWareCentral FallsWinchendon
People
Population
10,048Lowest
22,701Highest
10,440
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.7Highest
11% above U.S.
32.5±2.3Lowest
16% below U.S.
39.6±1.9
about the U.S. average
Ware and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.1%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Central Falls and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.9%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
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+
24%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
10.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Central Falls and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,475±$15k
16% below U.S.
$49,285±$8kLowest
39% below U.S.
$75,690±$14kHighest
6% below U.S.
Winchendon and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$289,700±$28kLowest
13% below U.S.
$352,100±$30kHighest
6% above U.S.
$323,800±$19k
about the U.S. average
Central Falls and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,043±$109Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,200±$75
15% below U.S.
$1,255±$163Highest
11% below U.S.
Winchendon and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,237Highest
36% above U.S.
$3,744Lowest
20% above U.S.
$3,780
21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.7%±8.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.7%±17.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
24.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
25.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.2%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #38 of 38 in RI #269 of 282 in MA
School district Ware Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning Winchendon
High school in town Ware Junior/Senior High School Central Falls Sr High Murdock High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
14.6Highest
11.3
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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.