What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).

Shelburne has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ware	Shelburne
People
Population	10,048Highest	1,567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA	57±7.3Highest 43% above MA
Kids under 18	19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%	12.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ware and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24%Lowest MA: 47.3%	51.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ware and Shelburne 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	$83,000±$4kHighest 20% below MA
	Shelburne 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±$28kLowest 48% below MA	$405,400±$32kHighest 28% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA	$1,080±$105Highest 39% below MA
	Shelburne and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,237Lowest 29% below MA	$4,595Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8%	39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	11.8%Highest MA: 10%	10.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest about the MA average	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.7%±6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Shelburne 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	—
School district	Ware	Mohawk Trail
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

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.