Compare towns
Ware vs Warren vs Warwick 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
Warwick has the highest household income ($93k).
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.
| Measure | Ware | Warren | Warwick | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
5,009 |
776Lowest |
1,054 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
51.4±7.3 29% above MA |
55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
| New Salem and Warwick 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% |
20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Warren 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% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±6.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| New Salem and Warwick 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% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and New Salem 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 |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$93,333±$22kHighest 10% below MA |
$79,688±$19k 23% below MA |
| Warwick and New Salem 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 |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
$359,000±$40kHighest 36% below MA |
| New Salem and Warwick 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 |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,367±$163Highest 22% below MA |
$1,194±$88 32% below MA |
| Warwick and New Salem 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 |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
$4,509 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3 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% |
9% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.4%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Warwick 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Ware | Quaboag Regional | Warwick | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Quaboag Regional High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.