Compare towns
Acton vs Petersham vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Acton | Petersham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
1,185Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Acton and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Petersham | Ware |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 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.