Compare towns
Ware vs Winchendon vs Hardwick 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Winchendon | Hardwick | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
10,440Highest |
2,684 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% 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% |
21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchendon 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% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest 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% MA: 47.3% |
21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Winchendon 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 |
$75,690±$14k 27% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
| Petersham and Hardwick 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 |
$1,255±$163 29% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Petersham and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$3,780Lowest 37% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
76.6% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest 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 | #269 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ware | Winchendon | Quabbin | Petersham |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Murdock High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.