Compare towns
Peru vs Ware vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($333k median).
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 | Peru | Ware | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630 |
6,369Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Middlefield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Peru and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
| Middlefield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,400±$15k 52% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$332,800±$48kHighest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805 36% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
12.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Middlefield 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 | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.