Compare towns
Andover vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most expensive homes ($367k median).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Webster has the most people working from home (17.1%).
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 | Andover | Hardwick | Ware | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,135Lowest |
2,684 |
10,048Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±11.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
| Andover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,514±$27k 10% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Webster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,500±$44kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190 14% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
| Webster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962 91% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Andover School District | Quabbin | Ware | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.