Compare towns
Hardwick vs Putnam vs Ware vs Bernardston
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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Ware has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Putnam | Ware | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
9,292 |
10,048Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 7% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$81,940±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Bernardston 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±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Hardwick and Bernardston 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. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,283±$553Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Bernardston and Putnam 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,516Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bernardston and Ware 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Putnam School District | Ware | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.