Compare towns
Ware vs Dudley vs Petersham vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Dudley | Petersham | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
11,929Highest |
1,185Lowest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Hardwick 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% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Petersham and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Dudley and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Petersham and Dudley 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 |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | — | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Petersham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.