Compare towns
Petersham vs Tyringham 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 homeowners (94.2%).
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k 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 | Tyringham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185 |
494Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Tyringham and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Tyringham 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest 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 |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,050±$393 40% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Petersham and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$4,632 23% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.9% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham 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 |
| School district | Petersham | — | Ware |
| High school 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 |
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.