Compare towns
Hardwick vs Strafford vs Ware
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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Strafford | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
4,306 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Strafford 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. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Ware 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% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Strafford School District | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.