Compare towns
Ware vs Townsend vs Petersham vs Hardwick
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 most affordable homes ($290k median).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Townsend | Petersham | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
9,100 |
1,185Lowest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Hardwick 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Petersham and Townsend 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,636 23% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hardwick 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 min 27% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Ware 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | North Middlesex | Petersham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.