Compare towns
Hardwick vs Lee vs Ware vs Bernardston
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 renters (31.8% rent).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Lee | Ware | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
4,576 |
10,048Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Lee 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 7% below U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$81,940±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Lee and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,283±$553Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,516 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Oyster River Coop School District | 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 | 10 photos → | 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.