Compare towns
Dublin vs Petersham vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dublin has the most people working from home (22%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
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 | Dublin | Petersham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688 |
1,185Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4 27% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dublin and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14k 30% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Dublin and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165 6% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dublin 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Petersham | Ware |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.