Compare towns
Hardwick vs Lawrence vs Everett vs Ware
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Lawrence | Everett | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
88,736Highest |
50,045 |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 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+ | 30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Hardwick 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 |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Everett and Hardwick 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 |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Everett 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Lawrence | Everett | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | Everett High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
12.1 |
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.