Compare towns
Hawley vs Ware vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hawley has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Ware has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($371k 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 | Hawley | Ware | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 277Lowest |
10,048Highest |
526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.8±7.2Highest 42% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
| Hawley and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±10 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.2%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hawley and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±5.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$26k 16% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| Washington and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,600±$38k 45% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
| Washington and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,097Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,381Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±12.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Hawley and Washington 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Ware | — |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.