Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ware vs Hinsdale
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Hinsdale has the shortest commute (23 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 | Hinsdale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
10,048Highest |
1,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±10.1 9% above MA |
| Hardwick and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Hinsdale 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hinsdale and Hardwick 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$77,845±$17kHighest 25% below MA |
| Hinsdale and Hardwick 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 |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$267,600±$35kLowest 52% 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±$119 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,109±$118Highest 37% below MA |
| Hinsdale and Hardwick 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,065Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.3%±24.6Lowest 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
78.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Hardwick 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 | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Ware | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.