Compare towns

Warren vs Oakham 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).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

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.

MeasureWarrenOakhamWare
People
Population
5,009
1,639Lowest
6,369Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
-2.7%
MA: +7.4%
+1.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±7.3Lowest
3% below MA
49±2.3Highest
23% above MA
39.8±6
about the MA average
Kids under 18
20.8%±8
MA: 19.4%
18.2%±3.1Lowest
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%
21.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.4%±3.9
MA: 17.9%
Oakham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.2%
MA: 47.3%
40.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
15.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±2.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
Oakham 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
$102,000±$20kHighest
about the MA average
$45,158±$11kLowest
57% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$333,700±$35k
41% below MA
$420,100±$20kHighest
25% below MA
$253,400±$31kLowest
55% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$890±$174Lowest
49% below MA
$1,174±$81Highest
33% below MA
$1,039±$104
41% below MA
Oakham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,530Highest
24% below MA
$4,103
32% below MA
$3,408Lowest
43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.7%±18.4
MA: 51.8%
27.8%±69.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
64.5%±17.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%
MA: 10%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
14.1%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%
MA: 62.5%
91.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1979Highest
15 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
13% above MA
39 minHighest
32% above MA
27 minLowest
9% below MA
Work from home
8.5%±5.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
9.6%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
16.6%±5Highest
MA: 18.6%
Ware and Oakham 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 #165 of 282 in MA — #267 of 282 in MA
School district Quaboag Regional Quabbin —
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.