Compare towns
Ware vs Warren vs Webster 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).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Warren | Webster | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
5,009Lowest |
12,228Highest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
38.7±7.3 3% below MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
39.6±1.9 about the MA average |
| Ware and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
21.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% 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±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$333,700±$35kHighest 41% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
| Warren and Webster 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 |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA |
| Winchendon and Webster 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 |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$3,780 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 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% |
9%Lowest MA: 10% |
16% MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Quaboag Regional | — | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Quaboag Regional High | — | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.0Lowest |
— | 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.