Compare towns
Middlesex vs Petersham vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Petersham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,185Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Petersham | Ware |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.