Compare towns
Ware vs Meredith vs Athol 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 renters (27.7% rent).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Meredith | Athol | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
6,758 |
12,011Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 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. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above 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. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 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 about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ware | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Athol-Royalston | Petersham |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
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.