Compare towns
Ware vs Topsham 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).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
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 | Topsham | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
999Lowest |
1,185 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Topsham 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% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±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. |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Topsham 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. |
$222,900±$56kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,006Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Ware 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% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham and Topsham 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 | — | — |
| School district | Ware | Waits River Union High District #36 | 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 |
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.