Compare towns
Petersham vs Springfield vs Ware vs Hardwick
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).
Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Springfield | Ware | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,185 |
1,122Lowest |
10,048Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Hardwick 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% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636 49% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Petersham 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 | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Petersham | — | Ware | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
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| 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.