Compare towns
Petersham vs Warren vs Ware
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).
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Warren | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185Lowest |
5,009 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Warren 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 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest 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±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Warren 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% |
9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 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 | — | #165 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Petersham | Quaboag Regional | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | Quaboag Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.