Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ashfield vs Ware vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Hardwick | Ashfield | Ware | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
1,893 |
10,048Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
| Ashfield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% MA: 47.3% |
52%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
| Petersham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$400,600±$30kHighest 29% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Ashfield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Mohawk Trail | Ware | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.