Compare towns
Chester vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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 | Chester | Hardwick | Ware | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,240 |
2,684 |
10,048Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 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 | $89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
| Hardwick and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71 37% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Middlefield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522 25% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield 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 | Gateway | 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 | 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.