Compare towns
Croydon vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Sunapee
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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 798Lowest |
2,684 |
10,048Highest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±9.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Croydon 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest 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% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,333±$21k 22% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Croydon 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±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Hardwick 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±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% 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% |
34.6%±10.5 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%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% |
75.9% 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. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% 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% |
9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Sunapee 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 | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Croydon School District | Quabbin | Ware | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.