Compare towns
Hanson vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Hanson | Hardwick | Ware | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927Lowest |
2,684 |
10,048 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Hardwick and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Lowest 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+ | 35.1% MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24k 15% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
| Hanson and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55k 9% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Hanson and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Highest 7% above MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 59%±13.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Hanson 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Ware | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.