Compare towns
Ware vs Plainfield vs Ware 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
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.
| Measure | Ware | Plainfield | Ware | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
616Lowest |
6,369 |
10,440Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Plainfield 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% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Winchendon 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
21.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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 35% below MA |
$63,500±$14k 39% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% 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 |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$323,800±$19kHighest 42% below MA |
| Winchendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,255±$163 29% below MA |
| Plainfield and Winchendon 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 |
$4,458Highest 26% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,780 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ware 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% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | — | — | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | — | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.