Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Ware vs Shutesbury
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 expensive homes ($403k median).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Shutesbury has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Williamsburg | Ware | Shutesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,694 |
6,369Highest |
1,910Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4 25% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
50.2±4.5Highest 26% above MA |
| Shutesbury and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Williamsburg 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% |
25.2%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shutesbury 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% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,792±$21k about the MA average |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$123,333±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
| Shutesbury and Williamsburg 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 |
$376,100±$21k 33% below MA |
| Williamsburg and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,721±$111Highest about the MA average |
| Shutesbury and Williamsburg 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 |
$6,642Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±17Lowest 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% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±7.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Shutesbury and Williamsburg 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 | — | Shutesbury |
| 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.