Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ware vs Orange 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 expensive homes ($347k median).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
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 | Ware | Orange | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
6,369 |
7,573 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
41.8±2.2 4% 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Orange 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
15.7% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest 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±$22kHighest 28% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$55,824±$10k 46% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.