Compare towns
Ware vs Greenfield 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 the most people working from home (12.3%).
Greenfield has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Winchendon has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Greenfield | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
17,664Highest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.6±2.1Highest 12% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Greenfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchendon 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 MA: 17.9% |
23.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Greenfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% MA: 47.3% |
39.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.9Lowest 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 | $67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$55,614±$7kLowest 47% below MA |
$75,690±$14kHighest 27% below MA |
| 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±$28k 48% below MA |
$263,100±$16kLowest 53% below MA |
$323,800±$19kHighest 42% below MA |
| Winchendon and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,107±$67 37% below MA |
$1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA |
| Winchendon and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$4,769Highest 20% below MA |
$3,780Lowest 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
63.2%±7.3 MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
15.2% MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.9%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Greenfield 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 | #257 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Greenfield | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Greenfield High | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.9Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.