Compare towns
Goshen 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
Goshen has the most people working from home (19.1%).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Goshen | Petersham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 915Lowest |
1,185 |
6,369Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±5.8Highest 45% above MA |
56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Goshen and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Goshen and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Goshen and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,906±$10k 5% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Petersham and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$25k 37% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| Petersham and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $869±$727Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,022Highest 16% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±66.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.1%±7.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Goshen 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 | — | Petersham | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.