Compare towns
Peru vs Ware vs Washington vs Florida
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 (+2%).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($371k median).
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k 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 | Washington | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 630 |
10,048Highest |
526Lowest |
668 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
| Washington and Florida 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% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Florida 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% |
32.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Florida 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 |
$95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
$86,875±$17k 16% below MA |
| Washington 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 |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109Highest 41% below MA |
— | $867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
| Ware and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805 36% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,381Highest 27% below MA |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
91.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
26 min 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Washington 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 | — | Florida |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.