Compare towns
Hardwick vs Athol 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
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
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 | Athol | Ware | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
8,801 |
10,048Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Hardwick 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% |
15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Hardwick 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% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$67,394±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
| Petersham and Hardwick 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 |
$248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
| Petersham and Hardwick 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 |
$1,120±$173 36% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Petersham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
21%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Ware | Petersham |
| High school 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.