Compare towns
Petersham vs Epping vs Ware vs New Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
New Salem has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Petersham | Epping | Ware | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,185 |
7,430 |
10,048Highest |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.6±2.4 43% above U.S. |
| Petersham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±6.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$79,688±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Petersham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$359,000±$40k 8% above U.S. |
| Epping and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441 19% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,194±$88 15% below U.S. |
| Epping and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636 49% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,509 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
86.7%±25.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Salem and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and New Salem 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Petersham | Epping School District | Ware | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.