Compare towns
Ware vs Hampton vs Petersham vs New Salem
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).
Hampton has the most kids (19.7% under 18).
Petersham has the most expensive homes ($392k median).
New Salem has the shortest commute (23 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 | Hampton | Petersham | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
1,647 |
1,185 |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
55.6±2.4 43% above U.S. |
| Petersham and New Salem 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% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±6.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Hampton 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% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6 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±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$79,688±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Petersham and Hampton 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. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$359,000±$40k 8% above U.S. |
| Petersham and New Salem 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. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,194±$88 15% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Hampton 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. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
$4,509 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
86.7%±25.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Salem 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Salem and Hampton 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 | Hampton School District | Petersham | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | 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.