Compare towns
Ware vs Petersham vs Hardwick vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Petersham | Hardwick | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
1,185Lowest |
2,684 |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% 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% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest 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±$15k 35% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% 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 |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% 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±$109 41% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 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% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Petersham | Quabbin | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.