Compare towns
Bernardston vs Hardwick vs Killingly vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
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 | Bernardston | Hardwick | Killingly | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,164Lowest |
2,684 |
17,867Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,940±$10k about the U.S. average |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Killingly and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,516Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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 | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bernardston 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Quabbin | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
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.