Compare towns
Ashby vs Hardwick vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Ashby | Hardwick | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
2,684Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Ashby and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kHighest 31% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Ashby and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Ashby and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest about the MA average |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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 | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Quabbin | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.