Compare towns
Ware vs Halifax vs Petersham vs Athol
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 renters (27.7% rent).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
Athol has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Halifax | Petersham | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
847Lowest |
1,185 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Halifax 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% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 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. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax 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 | — | — | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Halifax School District | Petersham | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.6Highest |
| 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.