Compare towns
Ware vs Thompson 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 kids (19.1% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
9,337 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2 39% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Petersham 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 16% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ware | Thompson School District | Petersham |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.