Compare towns
Middlefield vs Peru vs Ware vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($371k median).
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 | Middlefield | Peru | Ware | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 352Lowest |
630 |
6,369Highest |
526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 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+ | 28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% MA: 47.3% |
28% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$267,400±$15k 52% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
| Washington and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
— | $1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$3,805 36% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Middlefield 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 | — |
| 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.