Compare towns
Ware vs Epping vs New Salem vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
New Salem has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Epping | New Salem | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
7,430 |
1,054Lowest |
6,369 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
55.6±2.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Salem and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Ware 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. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$79,688±$19k about the U.S. average |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Epping and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$359,000±$40k 8% above U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,194±$88 15% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Epping and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,509 45% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
86.7%±25.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Salem and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and New Salem 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Epping School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Epping High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.