Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ware vs Webster vs Whitman
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Webster | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
10,048 |
17,748Highest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Hardwick 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%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Webster 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 |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Whitman 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±$67k 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Whitman 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Ware | Webster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.