Compare towns
Petersham vs Sutton vs Ware vs Worthington
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%).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Worthington has the most people working from home (28.2%).
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 | Sutton | Ware | Worthington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,185 |
9,452 |
10,048Highest |
1,021Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
61.6±3.6Highest 54% above MA |
| Worthington and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Ware 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
39.5%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Worthington 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$91,667±$17k 12% below MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$380,400±$26k 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$633±$220Lowest 64% below MA |
| Petersham and Sutton 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,443 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±63 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Worthington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 min 32% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
41 minHighest 41% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±12.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Worthington and Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Petersham | Sutton | Ware | Worthington |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
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.