Compare towns

Ware vs Tyringham 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 kids (19.1% under 18).
Tyringham has the highest household income ($163k).
New Salem has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

MeasureWareTyringhamNew Salem
People
Population
10,048Highest
494Lowest
1,054
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
—
-0.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.7Lowest
8% above MA
59.2±2.7Highest
48% above MA
55.6±2.4
39% above MA
Tyringham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.1%±3.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
8.7%±5.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
14.5%±4.5
MA: 19.4%
Ware and New Salem 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%
35.2%±8.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
23.7%±6.5
MA: 17.9%
Tyringham 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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
66.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
35.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.6%±2.4
MA: 7.9%
3.1%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Ware and Tyringham 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
$163,333±$28kHighest
57% above MA
$79,688±$19k
23% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$289,700±$28kLowest
48% below MA
$699,400±$96kHighest
24% above MA
$359,000±$40k
36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,043±$109Lowest
41% below MA
$1,050±$393
40% below MA
$1,194±$88Highest
32% below MA
New Salem and Tyringham 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
$4,632Highest
23% below MA
$4,509
25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.3%±16.2
MA: 51.8%
60%±100Lowest
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%Highest
MA: 10%
3.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
9.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
89%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1973
9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
about the MA average
36 minHighest
23% above MA
23 minLowest
20% below MA
Work from home
12.3%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
26.2%±8Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.4%±8
MA: 18.6%
Tyringham and New Salem 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 — —
High school in town Ware Junior/Senior High School — —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
— —
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.