Compare towns
Ware vs Providence 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 affordable homes ($290k median).
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Providence | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
191,767Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Providence 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% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$68,119±$3k 16% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$362,200±$8k 9% above U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,408±$42 about the U.S. average |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±2.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Providence 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% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham and Providence 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 | #36 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Ware | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Petersham |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Classical High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
17.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.