Compare towns
Hardwick vs Sharon vs Ware vs Barre
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 renters (31.8% rent).
Sharon has the most homeowners (93.1%).
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 | Sharon | Ware | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
442Lowest |
10,048Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
49.4±11.2Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| Sharon 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Hardwick 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% |
31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Barre 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. |
$113,125±$19kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$475,900±$38kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Barre 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. |
$1,458±$1kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Hardwick 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. |
$8,274Highest 165% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Sharon 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 | — | Ware | Quabbin |
| High school 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 |
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.