Compare towns
Webster vs Oxford vs Ware
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%).
Oxford has the highest household income ($104k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Oxford | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
13,385 |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
42±2.8 5% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
| Ware and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$103,862±$10kHighest about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$374,900±$18kHighest 33% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Oxford and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,177±$142 33% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Webster and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,622Highest 23% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Oxford 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Oxford | Ware |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Oxford High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
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.