Compare towns
Whitman vs Webster vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Whitman | Webster | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295 |
17,748Highest |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
| Ware and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 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+ | 31.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest about the MA average |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Whitman 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Webster | Ware |
| High school in town | None 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.