Compare towns
Ware vs Webster vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Hampton has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Webster | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
12,228Highest |
1,647Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$333,100±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
| Webster and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$4,364Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ware | — | Hampton School District |
| 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.