Compare towns
Greenfield 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
Greenfield has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Ware has the most homeowners (72.3%).
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 | Greenfield | Hardwick | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,664Highest |
2,684Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.1 12% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Hardwick and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 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+ | 23.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Greenfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.9Lowest 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 | $55,614±$7kLowest 47% below MA |
$75,000±$22kHighest 28% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,100±$16kLowest 53% below MA |
$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$67 37% below MA |
$1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Hardwick and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,769Highest 20% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±7.3 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.2%Highest MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 40% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.9%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Greenfield 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 | #257 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Greenfield | Quabbin | Ware |
| High school in town | Greenfield High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.