Compare towns
Ware vs Harvard vs Dudley vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Harvard | Dudley | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
6,927 |
11,929Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Dudley 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% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Petersham and Harvard 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard 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 MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ware | Harvard | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Petersham |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | The Bromfield High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.0Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.