Compare towns
Hardwick vs Royalston vs Ware vs Barre
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).
Royalston has the most homeowners (96%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Royalston | Ware | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
1,460Lowest |
10,048Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
| Royalston 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% |
21.2%±10Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Royalston 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% |
20.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Royalston 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% |
28.5% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Royalston 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 |
$102,109±$8k about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
| Barre and Royalston 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 |
$346,300±$18k 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
| Barre 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 |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Barre 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 | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Athol-Royalston | Ware | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.