Compare towns
Petersham vs Gardner vs Ware vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 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 | Gardner | Ware | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,185 |
21,148Highest |
10,048 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Leyden 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 MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner 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 7% above MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$105,893±$13k about the MA average |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Leyden and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636 23% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
93.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Gardner 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Petersham | Gardner | Ware | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.