Compare towns
Ware vs Sheffield 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 affordable homes ($290k median).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 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 | Sheffield | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
3,330Lowest |
10,440Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
48.2±8Highest 21% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Sheffield 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% |
13.3%±4Lowest 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% |
23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sheffield 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% |
37.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest 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±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$92,120±$31kHighest 11% below MA |
$75,690±$14k 27% below MA |
| Sheffield and Winchendon 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 |
$409,400±$32kHighest 27% below MA |
$323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,255±$163 29% below MA |
| Sheffield 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 |
$4,520Highest 25% below MA |
$3,780Lowest 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Winchendon 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 | #250 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Southern Berkshire | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Mt Everett Regional | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
7.8Lowest |
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.