Compare towns
Whitingham vs Ware vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Leicester has the most expensive homes ($310k 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 | Whitingham | Ware | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,368 |
10,048Highest |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.8±3.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Leicester and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$11kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$70,417±$30k 13% below U.S. |
| Whitingham and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$309,700±$107kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Leicester and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,098±$300Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Leicester and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Leicester 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Ware | — |
| High school in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.