Compare towns
Petersham vs Ware vs Hardwick vs Athol
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).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Hardwick | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,185Lowest |
10,048 |
2,684 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Hardwick 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 7% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
| Petersham and Hardwick 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 |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Petersham and Hardwick 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
| Petersham and Athol 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hardwick 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Petersham | Ware | Quabbin | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.