Compare towns
Hardwick vs Worcester vs Ware
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 highest household income ($75k).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Worcester | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
207,055Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| 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%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 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% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22kHighest 28% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Hardwick and Worcester 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 |
$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Worcester 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 |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.