Compare towns
Ware vs Glover vs Petersham vs Hardwick
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%).
Glover has the most kids (22.3% under 18).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Glover | Petersham | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
1,051Lowest |
1,185 |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.4±5.9 24% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Glover 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% |
22.3%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Glover and Hardwick 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% |
24.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Glover 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% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Glover 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. |
$73,839±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Hardwick 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. |
$264,700±$34kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$973±$130Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±64.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
39 min 46% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Glover 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 | — | — | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | Petersham | Quabbin |
| 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.