Compare towns

Warren vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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.

MeasureWarrenWorcesterWare
People
Population
5,009
831Lowest
10,048Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±7.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
Worcester 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%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
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%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ware and Worcester 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
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester 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±$6kLowest
18% below U.S.
$73,833±$18kHighest
9% below U.S.
$67,475±$15k
16% below U.S.
Worcester 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
$271,100±$27kLowest
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.
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
$1,043±$109Highest
26% below U.S.
Ware and Worcester 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.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
$4,237Lowest
36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.7%±18.4
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
8.5%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #165 of 282 in MA — #267 of 282 in MA
School district Quaboag Regional Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Ware
High school in town Quaboag Regional High None in town 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

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.