Compare towns

Warren vs Berlin vs Ware

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

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.

MeasureWarrenBerlinWare
People
Population
5,009
3,378Lowest
6,369Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+10.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±7.3Lowest
3% below MA
49.7±2.8Highest
24% above MA
39.8±6
about the MA average
Kids under 18
20.8%±8
MA: 19.4%
13.4%±4.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.3%±4.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Ware and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.6%±4.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
30.1%±5.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.4%±3.9
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.2%
MA: 47.3%
48.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
15.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
Berlin and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,082±$6k
36% below MA
$121,336±$12kHighest
17% above MA
$45,158±$11kLowest
57% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$333,700±$35k
41% below MA
$616,600±$55kHighest
10% above MA
$253,400±$31kLowest
55% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$890±$174Lowest
49% below MA
$2,420±$933Highest
37% above MA
$1,039±$104
41% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,530
24% below MA
$7,116Highest
19% above MA
$3,408Lowest
43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.7%±18.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.6%±19.7
MA: 51.8%
64.5%±17.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%
MA: 10%
5%Lowest
MA: 10%
14.1%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%
MA: 62.5%
77.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1992Highest
28 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
13% above MA
34 minHighest
17% above MA
27 minLowest
9% below MA
Work from home
8.5%±5.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
29.1%±6.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.6%±5
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #165 of 282 in MA #61 of 282 in MA #267 of 282 in MA
School district Quaboag Regional Berlin-Boylston —
High school in town Quaboag Regional High None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.0
— —
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.