Compare towns
Dedham 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
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).
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 | Dedham | Petersham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
1,185Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Dedham and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Dedham and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Petersham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Petersham | Ware |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.