Compare towns
Hardwick vs Raynham vs Upton 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 renters (31.8% rent).
Raynham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.1%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Raynham | Upton | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
15,505Highest |
8,189 |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
42.9±1.5Lowest 7% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Upton 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%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Upton 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% |
39.7% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$124,012±$16k 19% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Upton and Raynham 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 |
$524,400±$29k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Upton and Raynham 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 |
$1,749±$74Highest about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$6,752 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #163 of 282 in MA | #190 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Bridgewater-Raynham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Highest |
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.