Compare towns
Webster vs Ware vs Heath
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%).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
10,048 |
765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
| Heath and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest 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 | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
| Heath and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
— |
| Webster and Ware 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,438Highest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Webster 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Webster | Ware | — |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.