Compare towns
Webster vs Ware vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Webster | Ware | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,228Highest |
10,048 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85Highest 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Webster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ware | Sutton |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.