Compare towns
Hardwick vs Springfield 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 most expensive homes ($347k median).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Ware has the most homeowners (72.3%).
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 | Springfield | Ware | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
154,749Highest |
6,369 |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Hardwick and Ware 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Ware 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Ware 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 MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22kHighest 28% below MA |
$52,656±$2k 49% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Hardwick and Ware 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 |
$1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Springfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 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 |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Springfield | — | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
— | 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.