Compare towns
Ware vs Claremont vs Petersham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Claremont has the most affordable homes ($205k median).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Claremont | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
13,078Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
42.6±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$59,096±$8kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$204,600±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,146±$83 19% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,774Highest 85% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Claremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #103 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ware | Claremont School District | Petersham |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Stevens High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.