Compare towns
Hardwick vs Lawrence 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
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | Lawrence | Ware | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
88,736Highest |
10,048 |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
| Bernardston 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 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Hardwick 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Lawrence 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 |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$81,940±$10kHighest 21% below MA |
| Bernardston 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±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$332,000±$15k 41% below MA |
| Lawrence 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 |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,283±$553 27% below MA |
| Lawrence 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 |
$3,422Lowest 43% 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% |
60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bernardston and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Lawrence | Ware | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
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.