Compare towns
Petersham vs Ware vs Goshen
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 highest household income ($111k).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Goshen has the most people working from home (19.1%).
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 | Ware | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185 |
6,369Highest |
915Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
58±5.8Highest 45% above MA |
| Goshen 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.4%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Goshen 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Goshen 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 7% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$98,906±$10k 5% below MA |
| Petersham and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$351,900±$25k 37% below MA |
| Petersham and Goshen 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 |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$869±$727Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636 23% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,022Highest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±66.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Goshen 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
19.1%±7.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Goshen 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.