Compare towns
Hardwick vs Becket vs Ware vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Hardwick | Becket | Ware | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
1,962Lowest |
10,048Highest |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
49±3.2 23% above MA |
| Becket and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2 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+ | 22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±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 | $75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$80,417±$29k 23% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$81,940±$10kHighest 21% below MA |
| Bernardston and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$361,000±$82kHighest 36% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$332,000±$15k 41% below MA |
| Becket and Hardwick 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 |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,283±$553 27% below MA |
| Becket and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,516Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Becket and Bernardston 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 | Quabbin | Central Berkshire | Ware | Pioneer Valley |
| 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 |
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.