Compare towns
Pelham vs Ware vs Barre 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 affordable homes ($290k median).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Barre | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,335Lowest |
10,048Highest |
5,572 |
1,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
| Whately and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 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%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% 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±$560Highest 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Pelham and Ware 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pelham | Ware | Quabbin | Whately |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.