Compare towns
Hardwick vs Upton vs Ware vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Upton | Ware | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
8,189Highest |
6,369 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Petersham 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
| Upton and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.