Compare towns
Warren vs Putnam vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Warren | Putnam | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,009Lowest |
9,292 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Warren and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Putnam School District | Ware |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Putnam High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
9.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.