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