Compare towns
Hinsdale vs Ware vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hinsdale has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Hinsdale | Ware | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,859 |
10,048Highest |
630Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±10.1 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
| Peru and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Peru and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hinsdale and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,845±$17k 25% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$90,750±$18kHighest 13% below MA |
| Peru and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$35k 52% below MA |
$289,700±$28kHighest 48% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
| Ware and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$118Highest 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
— |
| Hinsdale and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,065Lowest 49% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,805 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±24.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 20% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Peru 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Ware | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.