Compare towns
Hardwick vs Wolfeboro 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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Ware | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
6,571 |
10,048Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7 45% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 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. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Wolfeboro 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 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% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer 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. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Ware | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
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.