Compare towns
Petersham vs Troy 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).
Troy has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Troy | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185Lowest |
2,005 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
40.2±5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Troy 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% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Troy 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. |
$88,871±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Troy 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. |
$266,600±$39kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,024±$331Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636 49% above U.S. |
$5,229Highest 68% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.1%±27.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Troy 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% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Petersham | Monadnock Regional School District | Ware |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.