Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ware vs Epping
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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
10,048Highest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Epping 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Epping 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Epping 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. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Quabbin | Ware | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.