Compare towns
Petersham vs Maynard vs Ware vs Goshen
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 homeowners (94.2%).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Maynard | Ware | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,185 |
10,712Highest |
10,048 |
915Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
58±5.8Highest 45% above MA |
| Goshen and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
31.4%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Goshen and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Goshen 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±$20k 7% above MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$98,906±$10k 5% below MA |
| Maynard 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 |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$351,900±$25k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$869±$727Lowest 51% below MA |
| Maynard 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,022 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±66.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% MA: 10% |
8.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1961 3 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 |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.1%±7.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Goshen 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 | — | #166 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Petersham | — | Ware | — |
| High school 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 | 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.