Compare towns

Windham vs Ware vs Townshend

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).

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.

MeasureWindhamWareTownshend
People
Population
594Lowest
6,369Highest
1,538
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
39.8±6Lowest
about the U.S. average
55.6±9.6Highest
43% above U.S.
Townshend and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
12%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Ware and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±6.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
15.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Ware and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
$45,158±$11kLowest
44% below U.S.
$78,750±$29k
about the U.S. average
Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$253,400±$31kLowest
24% below U.S.
$287,200±$79k
14% below U.S.
Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,039±$104Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,074±$80Highest
24% below U.S.
Townshend and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$3,408Lowest
9% above U.S.
$5,364
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
72.5%±23.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townshend and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Townshend and Windham 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 — #267 of 282 in MA —
School district — — West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town — — Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.1
On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.