Compare towns
Winchendon vs Upton 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 youngest population (median age 39.6).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Upton | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440Highest |
8,189Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Upton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Winchendon 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Winchendon and Ware 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Winchendon and Ware 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #269 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchendon | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ware |
| High school in town | Murdock High School | Blackstone Valley | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
11.2 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.