Compare towns
Ware vs Webster vs Pomfret vs Winchendon
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 (40.2% rent).
Pomfret has the highest household income ($108k).
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Pomfret | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
17,748Highest |
4,317Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Pomfret 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% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Webster 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% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Pomfret 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 16% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
| 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 36% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$3,780Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Pomfret 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% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pomfret 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Webster | Pomfret School District | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Bartlett High School | None in town | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.