Compare towns
Ware vs Hardwick vs Petersham vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Hardwick | Petersham | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
2,684 |
1,185Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 35% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
| 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 48% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| 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±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
| 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 29% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Ware 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Quabbin | 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.