Compare towns
Worcester vs Ware vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Worcester | Ware | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
10,048Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Ware | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.