Compare towns
Petersham vs Lancaster vs Ware
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 oldest population (median age 56.3).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Petersham | Lancaster | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185Lowest |
8,606 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Ware 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Lancaster and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Petersham | Nashoba | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.