Compare towns
Hardwick vs Reading vs Ware 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
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 | Reading | Ware | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
25,612Highest |
6,369 |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Hardwick and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #163 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Reading | — | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 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.