Compare towns

Warren vs Plainfield 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 most renters (35.5% rent).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).

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.

MeasureWarrenPlainfieldWare
People
Population
5,009
616Lowest
10,048Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
-2.3%
MA: +7.4%
+2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±7.3Lowest
3% below MA
50.6±9.5Highest
27% above MA
43.1±4.7
8% above MA
Plainfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.8%±8Highest
MA: 19.4%
19%±9.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.1%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
Warren and Ware 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%
29.5%±7.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.6%±3.4
MA: 17.9%
Plainfield 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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
52.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
Plainfield 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
$63,500±$14kLowest
39% below MA
$67,475±$15kHighest
35% below MA
Ware and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$333,700±$35kHighest
41% below MA
$309,000±$47k
45% below MA
$289,700±$28kLowest
48% below MA
Warren and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$890±$174Lowest
49% below MA
$1,292±$558Highest
27% below MA
$1,043±$109
41% below MA
Plainfield 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
$4,458
26% below MA
$4,237Lowest
29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.7%±18.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
40%±100
MA: 51.8%
64.3%±16.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%Lowest
MA: 10%
16.9%Highest
MA: 10%
11.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
98%Highest
MA: 62.5%
72.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
13% above MA
38 minHighest
30% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
8.5%±5.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
26.2%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #165 of 282 in MA — #267 of 282 in MA
School district Quaboag Regional — Ware
High school in town Quaboag Regional High — Ware Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.0Lowest
—
11.1Highest
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.