Compare towns
Rowe vs Ware vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowe has the most expensive homes ($275k median).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Peru has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Rowe | Ware | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 453Lowest |
6,369Highest |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
| Peru and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$90,750±$18kHighest 13% below MA |
| Peru and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,000±$41kHighest 51% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$267,400±$15k 52% below MA |
| Rowe and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
— |
| Rowe and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$3,805Highest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Peru 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 | Rowe | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.