Compare towns
Gardner 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
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Gardner | Petersham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,185Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Petersham | Ware |
| High school in town | Gardner 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.