Compare towns
Winchendon vs Spencer 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).
Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Spencer | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440 |
12,008Highest |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Spencer 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer 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% |
29.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer 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 |
$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Spencer 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 |
$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Winchendon and Spencer 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 |
$4,387Highest 27% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest 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% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchendon | Spencer-E Brookfield | Ware |
| High school in town | Murdock High School | David Prouty High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
9.9Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.