Compare towns
Hardwick vs Milton 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
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Milton | Ware | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
28,587Highest |
10,048 |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton 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% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Milton 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 |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$81,940±$10k 21% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$332,000±$15k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,474±$281Highest 16% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,283±$553 27% below MA |
| Milton 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 |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,516 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #163 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Milton | Ware | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
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.