Compare towns
Ware vs Monroe 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Petersham has the most expensive homes ($392k median).
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 | Monroe | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
122Lowest |
1,185 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | -3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
| Monroe and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±28 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe 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% MA: 47.3% |
19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe 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 |
— | $110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
— | $1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$2,053Lowest 66% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
39 min 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Ware | — | Petersham |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.