Compare towns
Ware vs Epping vs Petersham vs Palmer Town
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Palmer Town has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Epping | Petersham | Palmer Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
7,430 |
1,185Lowest |
12,381Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
47.8±5.6 23% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$78,480±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Petersham and Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
$271,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Epping 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 26% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,679±$441 19% above U.S. |
$1,075±$103 24% below U.S. |
| Epping and Petersham 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
$4,540 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±10.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Ware 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Petersham 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #252 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Epping School District | Petersham | Palmer · Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Epping High School | None in town | Pathfinder Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 9.9 |
| 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.