Compare towns
Pepperell vs Putnam 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
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ware has the most homeowners (72.3%).
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 | Pepperell | Putnam | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
9,292 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,726±$17kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 19% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Ware 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Ware |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.