Compare towns
Ware vs Hardwick vs Petersham vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Ware | Hardwick | Petersham | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,369Highest |
2,684 |
1,185Lowest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6 about the MA average |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | — | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Petersham | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.