Compare towns
Hardwick vs Middlesex vs Ware vs Hinsdale
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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Ware has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Hinsdale has the shortest commute (23 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 | Middlesex | Ware | Hinsdale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
1,943 |
10,048Highest |
1,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.8±10.1 13% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Hinsdale 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hinsdale 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 7% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$77,845±$17k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$267,600±$35kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,109±$118 22% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hinsdale 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,065Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±24.6 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #163 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Ware | Central Berkshire |
| 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.