Compare towns
Rowe vs Ware vs Peru vs Charlemont
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 kids (23% under 18).
Ware has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Peru has the highest household income ($91k).
Charlemont has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 453Lowest |
10,048Highest |
630 |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and Rowe 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28% MA: 47.3% |
29%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$90,750±$18kHighest 13% below MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% 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±$41k 51% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$305,500±$52kHighest 46% below MA |
| Charlemont and Ware 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 |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
— | $1,023±$126Lowest 42% 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,805 36% below MA |
$4,351Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Charlemont 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 22% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Charlemont 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 | — | — |
| School district | Rowe | Ware | — | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.