Compare towns
Colrain vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the most homeowners (86.5%).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Charlemont has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Colrain | Hardwick | Ware | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
2,684 |
10,048Highest |
1,118Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest 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+ | 30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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 | $80,673±$10kHighest 22% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Colrain and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$305,500±$52k 46% below MA |
| Hardwick and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 37% below MA |
$1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Hardwick and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,351 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8 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 | 7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
78.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Charlemont 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 | Mohawk Trail | Quabbin | Ware | Hawlemont |
| 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 |
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.