Compare towns
Petersham vs Ware vs Windsor vs Leyden
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 youngest population (median age 43.1).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,185 |
10,048Highest |
3,554 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor 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%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Windsor 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$105,893±$13k 31% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Leyden 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±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441 19% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636 49% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Leyden 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% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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 | 12 photos → | 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.