Compare towns
Colrain vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Otis
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 affordable homes ($284k median).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
2,684 |
10,048Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% 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 |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
| Otis 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% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest 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%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Colrain and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 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±$10k 22% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA |
| Otis and Hardwick 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±$119 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
| Otis and Hardwick 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% 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% |
63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% 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% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis 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 | Farmington River Reg |
| 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.