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 affordable homes ($267k median).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
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 |
10,048Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% 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±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$332,800±$48kHighest 41% below MA |
| Middlefield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield 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 | — | Ware | — |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.