Compare towns
Hardwick vs Otis vs Westhampton 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 most kids (20.5% under 18).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Westhampton has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
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 | Otis | Westhampton | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
1,624 |
1,552Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Otis and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Ware 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% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Otis and Westhampton 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% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 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 |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Otis and Westhampton 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 |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$413,200±$24kHighest 26% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Westhampton and Otis 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 |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Otis and Westhampton 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 |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
91.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Westhampton 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 | Farmington River Reg | Hampshire · Westhampton | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hampshire Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.