Compare towns
Winchendon vs Ware vs Oxford
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).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Oxford has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Ware | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440 |
10,048Lowest |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
42±2.8 5% above MA |
| Ware and Oxford 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Winchendon and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Winchendon 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% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$103,862±$10kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$374,900±$18kHighest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,177±$142 33% below MA |
| Winchendon and Oxford 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,622Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Lowest 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Oxford 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 | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchendon | Ware | Oxford |
| High school in town | Murdock High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.