Compare towns
Pelham vs Ware vs Wendell vs Whately
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%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Whately has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
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 | Ware | Wendell | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,335 |
6,369Highest |
850Lowest |
1,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 13% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
| Whately and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Whately 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.2% MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell 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±$24k 9% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
| Whately and Pelham 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 |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Pelham and Whately 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 |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Wendell and Pelham 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 |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Whately 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 | — | New Salem-Wendell | Whately |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.