Compare towns
Abington vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Abington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Whitman has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
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 | Abington | Hardwick | Ware | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,053Highest |
2,684Lowest |
10,048 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Abington and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,400±$12kHighest 21% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Abington and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $539,600±$34kHighest 4% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,724±$250 about the MA average |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Whitman and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,045Highest 18% above MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Abington 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 | #143 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Abington | Quabbin | Ware | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Abington High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.