Compare towns
Ware vs Barnstead vs Petersham vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Barnstead | Petersham | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
4,994 |
1,185Lowest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20k 37% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham and Barnstead 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | — | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Barnstead School District | Petersham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town | 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 |
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.