Compare towns
Washington vs Ware vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
10,048Highest |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
| Washington and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8k 18% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Ware and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Highest 26% below U.S. |
— |
| Ware and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485 12% above U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock and Washington 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Ware | — |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.