Compare towns
Winchendon vs Gardner vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchendon has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Winchendon | Gardner | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440 |
21,148Highest |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Gardner and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Winchendon and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
24%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,690±$14kHighest 27% below MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Winchendon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,800±$19kHighest 42% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Winchendon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Winchendon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,780Lowest 37% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner 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 | #269 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchendon | Gardner | Ware |
| High school in town | Murdock High School | Gardner High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.