Compare towns
Ware vs Lancaster 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
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
New Salem has the most expensive homes ($359k median).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
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 | Lancaster | New Salem | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
3,216 |
1,054Lowest |
6,369 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% 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% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±6.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and New Salem 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% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$79,688±$19kHighest about the U.S. average |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| New Salem and Lancaster 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. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$359,000±$40kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,194±$88Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
| New Salem and Ware 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. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$4,509Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
86.7%±25.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Salem and Ware 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% 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. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Salem 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | White Mountains Regional School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.