Compare towns
Ware vs Smithfield 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).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Smithfield | Athol | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
22,233Highest |
12,011 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%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. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Smithfield 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. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% 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. |
$5,207Highest 67% 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% |
57.1%±17.7 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% |
6.2%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% |
81.6% 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. |
1976Highest 4 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. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham and Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ware | Smithfield | Athol-Royalston | Petersham |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Smithfield High School | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.8Highest |
11.6 |
— |
| 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.