Compare towns
Croydon vs Hardwick 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
Croydon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Croydon | Hardwick | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 798Lowest |
2,684 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±9.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Croydon and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $98,333±$21kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Croydon and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $317,300±$33k 5% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $991±$336Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±75.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 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 | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick 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 | Croydon School District | 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 |
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.