Compare towns
Hardwick vs Thompson vs Barre 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Thompson | Barre | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
9,337 |
5,572 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 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%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Barre and Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| 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±$119Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ware 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #134 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Thompson School District | Quabbin | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Quabbin Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.