Compare towns
Webster 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
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
10,048 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
| Leyden 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% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest 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% |
28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
| Leyden and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±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% |
10.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Leyden 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.