Compare towns
Ware vs Shirley 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).
Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Shirley | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
6,976 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Shirley 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% |
19.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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 |
$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
| Shirley and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$427,600±$36kHighest 24% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Shirley and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Petersham and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,156Highest 14% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Shirley 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% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
39 min 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ware | Ayer Shirley School District | Petersham |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | 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.