Compare towns
Hardwick vs Lancaster 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
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Hardwick | Lancaster | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
3,216 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest 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 | $75,000±$22kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below 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 | $1,108±$119Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest 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 | 11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | White Mountains Regional School District | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.