Compare towns
Hardwick vs Lowell vs Springfield 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).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Lowell | Springfield | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
118,368 |
154,749Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% 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% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 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% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Lowell 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 |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$4,499Highest 25% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Lowell 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Lowell | Springfield | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | Springfield Central High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
12.2 |
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.