Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ware vs Townsend vs Bernardston
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 renters (31.8% rent).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Townsend | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
10,048Highest |
9,100 |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Hardwick 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$81,940±$10k 21% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$332,000±$15k 41% below MA |
| Townsend 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 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,283±$553 27% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,516 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bernardston 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Ware | North Middlesex | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.