Compare towns

Warren vs Springfield 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 expensive homes ($334k median).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).

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.

MeasureWarrenSpringfieldWare
People
Population
5,009Lowest
154,749Highest
6,369
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±7.3
3% below MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
39.8±6Highest
about the MA average
Ware and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.8%±8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
23.3%±4.4
MA: 19.4%
Springfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.6%±4.5
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
17.4%±3.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Ware and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
20.5%
MA: 47.3%
15.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,082±$6kHighest
36% below MA
$52,656±$2k
49% below MA
$45,158±$11kLowest
57% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$333,700±$35kHighest
41% below MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$253,400±$31k
55% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$890±$174Lowest
49% below MA
$1,144±$55Highest
35% below MA
$1,039±$104
41% below MA
Springfield 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
$3,695
38% below MA
$3,408Lowest
43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.7%±18.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1
MA: 51.8%
64.5%±17.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%Lowest
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
14.1%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
57.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1952
12 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
13% above MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
27 min
9% below MA
Work from home
8.5%±5.4
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
16.6%±5Highest
MA: 18.6%
Ware and Warren 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 #276 of 282 in MA #267 of 282 in MA
School district Quaboag Regional Springfield —
High school in town Quaboag Regional High Springfield Central High —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.0Lowest
12.2Highest
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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.