Compare towns
Ware vs Derby 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%).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
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 | Derby | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
12,487Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Derby 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% |
21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Ware 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. |
$79,500±$11k about the U.S. average |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Derby 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. |
$5,510Highest 77% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Derby 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% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham and Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ware | Derby School District | Petersham |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Derby High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.