Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ware vs Whitman vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Whitman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 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 | Ware | Whitman | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
6,369 |
15,295Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Whitman 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% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Whitman 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
$81,940±$10k 21% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$332,000±$15k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,283±$553 27% below MA |
| Whitman and Bernardston 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 |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,516 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Bernardston 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Whitman-Hanson | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.