Compare towns
Hardwick vs Walpole vs Ware vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Walpole | Ware | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
3,690 |
10,048Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 7% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Fall Mountain Regional School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.