Compare towns

Williamsburg vs Ware vs Chesterfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Chesterfield has the most homeowners (92.2%).

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.

MeasureWilliamsburgWareChesterfield
People
Population
2,694
6,369Highest
1,055Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%
MA: +7.4%
+1.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-2.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
50±2.4Highest
25% above MA
39.8±6Lowest
about the MA average
44.3±7.6
11% above MA
Williamsburg and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.3%±4.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.1%±5.1
MA: 19.4%
Ware and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.7%±3.5
MA: 17.9%
17.4%±3.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
24.3%±4.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Chesterfield and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
15.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
34.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
2.7%±1.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Williamsburg and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,792±$21kHighest
about the MA average
$45,158±$11kLowest
57% below MA
$103,967±$11k
about the MA average
Williamsburg and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$403,100±$37kHighest
28% below MA
$253,400±$31kLowest
55% below MA
$390,800±$48k
30% below MA
Williamsburg and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,420±$228Highest
19% below MA
$1,039±$104Lowest
41% below MA
$1,078±$409
39% below MA
Williamsburg and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,761
4% below MA
$3,408Lowest
43% below MA
$5,969Highest
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61%±28
MA: 51.8%
64.5%±17.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
10.3%±84.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
14.1%Highest
MA: 10%
6.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.2%
MA: 62.5%
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
92.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955
9 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
13% below MA
27 min
9% below MA
31 minHighest
7% above MA
Work from home
26.5%±6.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.6%±5
MA: 18.6%
13.4%±6.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg — Chesterfield-Goshen
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.