Compare towns
Hardwick vs New Braintree vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Braintree has the highest household income ($100k).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | New Braintree | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
973Lowest |
6,369Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
47.8±4.6Highest 20% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| New Braintree 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% |
20%±4.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
25.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| New Braintree 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% |
41.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Ware 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 |
$99,500±$8kHighest 4% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| New Braintree 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 |
$408,800±$27kHighest 27% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| New Braintree 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 |
$1,484±$316Highest 16% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
| New Braintree and Hardwick 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 |
$5,508Highest 8% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±51.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest 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% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Hardwick 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.