Compare towns
Hardwick vs Topsfield 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 renters (31.8% rent).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Topsfield | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
6,564 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
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% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Hardwick 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% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 28% below MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,115±$538Highest 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Topsfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
7.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #163 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Topsfield | 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 |
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.