Compare towns
Hardwick vs Plainfield 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
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Ware | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
616Lowest |
6,369Highest |
1,185 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Petersham and Plainfield 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% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Plainfield 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% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Plainfield 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 |
$63,500±$14k 39% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% 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 |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% 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 |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Petersham and Plainfield 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 |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
38 min 30% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | — | — | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.