Compare towns
Petersham vs Ware vs Windsor
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 oldest population (median age 56.3).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Ware | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185 |
10,048Highest |
1,065Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Windsor 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% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
| Windsor and Petersham 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±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
| Petersham and Windsor 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 |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor 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.