Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ware vs Windham vs Bernardston
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 renters (31.8% rent).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
10,048 |
16,038Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Ware 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$81,940±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,283±$553 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,516 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Ware | Windham School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.