Compare towns
Ware vs Hampton vs Dudley vs Petersham
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 affordable homes ($290k median).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).
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 | Dudley | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
16,426Highest |
11,929 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Hampton 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Ware 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Petersham 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% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above 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 | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hampton 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #142 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ware | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Petersham |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Winnacunnet High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| 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.