Compare towns
Auburn vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has the highest household income ($117k).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Auburn | Hardwick | Ware | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,970 |
2,684Lowest |
10,048 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6 12% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Hardwick and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Auburn and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$16kHighest 29% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$155 17% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
| Worcester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,289Highest 12% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 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 | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Auburn 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 | #106 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | Quabbin | Ware | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Auburn Senior High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.