Compare towns
Petersham vs Townsend 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 most people working from home (16.2%).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Townsend | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185Lowest |
9,100 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Townsend and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Petersham and Townsend 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Ware 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Petersham | North Middlesex | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.