Compare towns
Ware vs Dalton vs Petersham vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Dalton | Petersham | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
6,256 |
1,185Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
| Petersham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
| Petersham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | — | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Central Berkshire | Petersham | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.9Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.