Compare towns
Ware vs Dover vs Dummerston 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 the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Petersham has the most expensive homes ($392k median).
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 | Dover | Dummerston | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
1,466 |
2,090 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Ware 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% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Dover 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% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Dummerston 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. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Dummerston 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. |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Dummerston 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Dover 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Ware | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Petersham |
| 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.