Compare towns
Pepperell vs Ware vs Plainfield
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).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Ware | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
10,048 |
15,141Highest |
| 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. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,726±$17k 5% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Pepperell 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. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 19% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Ware | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.