Compare towns
Petersham vs Thompson vs Ware
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 most expensive homes ($392k median).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% 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 | Thompson | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185Lowest |
9,337 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2 39% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham and Thompson 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Petersham | Thompson School District | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.