Compare towns
Hardwick vs Thompson vs Ware vs New Braintree
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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
New Braintree has the most expensive homes ($409k 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 | Thompson | Ware | New Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
9,337 |
10,048Highest |
973Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.8±4.6 23% above U.S. |
| Thompson and New Braintree 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and New Braintree 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%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Braintree and Thompson 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% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Highest 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% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Ware 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. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$99,500±$8kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| New Braintree 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$408,800±$27kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| New Braintree 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. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,484±$316Highest 5% above U.S. |
| New Braintree 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$5,508Highest 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±51.2Lowest 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±3.4Lowest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Thompson School District | Ware | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.