Compare towns
Washington vs Ware vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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.
| Measure | Washington | Ware | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
10,048Highest |
637 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
| Washington and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
| Leyden and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
| Leyden and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Washington 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Ware | — |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.