Compare towns
Peru vs Ware vs Worthington
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 the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Worthington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Worthington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630Lowest |
6,369Highest |
1,021 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
61.6±3.6Highest 54% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±2.8Lowest 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%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
39.5%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Worthington and Peru 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% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$91,667±$17kHighest 12% below MA |
| Worthington 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 |
$380,400±$26kHighest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,039±$104Highest 41% below MA |
$633±$220Lowest 64% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805 36% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,443Highest 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±63 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Worthington 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% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
41 minHighest 41% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±12.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Worthington 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Worthington |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.