Compare towns
Ludlow vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Granby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Granby has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Ludlow | Hardwick | Ware | Granby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904Highest |
2,684Lowest |
6,369 |
6,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
46.3±4.2Highest 16% above MA |
| Granby and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27% MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.8%±3.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Granby and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$119,297±$33kHighest 15% above MA |
| Granby and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$352,600±$16kHighest 37% below MA |
| Granby and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
— |
| Ludlow and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 18% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,572Highest 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Granby and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
23 min 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Ludlow 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 | #154 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #259 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Quabbin | — | Granby |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | None in town | — | Granby Jr Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 11.0Lowest |
| 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.