Compare towns

Foxborough vs Hardwick vs Ware

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Foxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).

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.

MeasureFoxboroughHardwickWare
People
Population
18,615Highest
2,684Lowest
10,048
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-10.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±1.9Lowest
6% above MA
45.3±9.8Highest
13% above MA
43.1±4.7
8% above MA
Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22%±3.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
20.5%±5.6
MA: 19.4%
19.1%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Foxborough and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±2.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±5Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.6%±3.4
MA: 17.9%
Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
30.9%
MA: 47.3%
24%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±4.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±2.2
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
$115,833±$9kHighest
11% above MA
$75,000±$22k
28% below MA
$67,475±$15kLowest
35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$606,300±$28kHighest
8% above MA
$346,700±$67k
38% below MA
$289,700±$28kLowest
48% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,843±$70Highest
5% above MA
$1,108±$119
37% below MA
$1,043±$109Lowest
41% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,275Highest
21% above MA
$4,400
27% below MA
$4,237Lowest
29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±13.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
59%±13.8
MA: 51.8%
64.3%±16.2Highest
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
5.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
11%
MA: 10%
11.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
68.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
72.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
about the MA average
31 minHighest
7% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
17.8%±2.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.7%±4.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
Foxborough 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 #138 of 282 in MA #163 of 282 in MA #267 of 282 in MA
School district Foxborough Quabbin Ware
High school in town Foxborough High None in town Ware Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Highest
—
11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.