Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ware vs Worcester vs Barre
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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Worcester | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
10,048 |
207,055Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
| Hardwick and Barre 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% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 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% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
| Barre 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 |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
| Barre and Worcester 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±$109 41% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Ware | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | South High Community | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
12.9 |
| 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.