Compare towns
Erving 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
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Erving | Petersham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703 |
1,185Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Petersham and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Ware 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 | Erving | 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 |
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.