Compare towns
Halifax vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Newark
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k 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.
| Measure | Halifax | Hardwick | Ware | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
2,684 |
10,048Highest |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
41.4±6 6% 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 | 25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest 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 | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$229,900±$23kLowest 31% 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 | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,771Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Newark 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 | Halifax School District | Quabbin | Ware | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.