Compare towns
Petersham vs Ware vs Brooklyn
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 people working from home (16.2%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% 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 | Ware | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185Lowest |
10,048Highest |
8,517 |
| 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. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn 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±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Brooklyn 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Brooklyn 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest 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 | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Petersham | Ware | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| 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.