Compare towns
Pelham vs Petersham vs Ware vs Williamsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Williamsburg has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Pelham | Petersham | Ware | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,335 |
1,185Lowest |
10,048Highest |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 13% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
50±2.4 25% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
| Pelham and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560 32% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
| Petersham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472Highest 25% above MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,761 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg 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 | Pelham | Petersham | Ware | Williamsburg |
| 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 |
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.