Compare towns
Ware vs Worcester vs Sutton 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 the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
New Salem has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Worcester | Sutton | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
207,055Highest |
9,452 |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±6.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| New Salem 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$79,688±$19k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$359,000±$40k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,194±$88 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,509 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
24 min 17% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.4%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ware | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | South High Community | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
12.6 |
— |
| 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.