Compare towns
Ware vs Lowell vs New Salem
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 affordable homes ($290k median).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
New Salem has the most people working from home (19.4%).
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 | Lowell | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
118,368Highest |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±6.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| New Salem 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
35.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$79,688±$19kHighest 23% below MA |
| New Salem and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$359,000±$40k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,194±$88 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$4,509Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
9.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.4%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ware | Lowell | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Lowell High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.