Compare towns
Griswold 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
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Griswold | Hardwick | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,530Highest |
2,684Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Griswold and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest 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 | $78,719±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Griswold and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$65Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Griswold and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,628Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±15.5Lowest 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 | 7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Griswold 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 | #118 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Griswold School District | Quabbin | Ware |
| High school in town | Griswold High School | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.