Compare towns
Warren vs Sutton vs Ware vs Palmer Town
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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Palmer Town has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Sutton | Ware | Palmer Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009Lowest |
9,452 |
6,369 |
12,381Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
47.8±5.6Highest 20% above MA |
| Palmer Town and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±3.1Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Palmer Town and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$78,480±$8k 25% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$271,400±$21k 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,075±$103 39% below MA |
| Sutton and Palmer Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 24% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,540 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.9%±10.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Palmer Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
7.3%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Ware 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #252 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Sutton | — | Palmer · Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Sutton High School | — | Pathfinder Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
12.6Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.