Compare towns
Winchendon vs Sandisfield 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).
Sandisfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Winchendon | Sandisfield | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440Highest |
994Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
49.9±7.5Highest 25% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Sandisfield 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% |
14%±2.9Lowest 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% |
28%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Sandisfield and Ware 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% |
26%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.8%±4.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sandisfield 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±$14k 27% below MA |
$91,111±$23kHighest 12% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Sandisfield and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
$360,300±$34kHighest 36% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Sandisfield and Winchendon 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 |
$1,250±$220 29% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Winchendon and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,780 37% below MA |
$3,328Lowest 44% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Sandisfield and Ware 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6% MA: 62.5% |
96.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sandisfield 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchendon | — | Ware |
| High school in town | Murdock High School | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 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.