Compare towns

Ware vs Webster vs Warren

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 people working from home (12.3%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Warren has the most kids (20.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureWareWebsterWarren
People
Population
10,048
17,748Highest
5,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.7Highest
8% above MA
39.9±2.9
about the MA average
38.7±7.3Lowest
3% below MA
Ware and Webster 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%
19.6%±2.9
MA: 19.4%
20.8%±8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Warren and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.6%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
14.6%±4.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
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%
MA: 47.3%
25.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
23.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
5.8%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
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
35% below MA
$72,895±$6kHighest
30% below MA
$66,082±$6kLowest
36% below MA
Webster 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
$361,500±$12kHighest
36% below MA
$333,700±$35k
41% below MA
Webster and Warren 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
$1,228±$81Highest
30% below MA
$890±$174Lowest
49% below MA
Webster and Ware 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
$3,999Lowest
33% below MA
$4,530Highest
24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.3%±16.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±6.7
MA: 51.8%
29.7%±18.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.8%
MA: 10%
12.7%Highest
MA: 10%
9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
59.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
64.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
1962
2 yrs older than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
about the MA average
31 min
5% above MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
Work from home
12.3%±3.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
8.5%±5.4
MA: 18.6%
Ware and Warren 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 #165 of 282 in MA
School district Ware Webster Quaboag Regional
High school in town Ware Junior/Senior High School Bartlett High School Quaboag Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
11.6Highest
10.0Lowest
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.