Compare towns
Needham vs Ware vs Hardwick vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Needham | Ware | Hardwick | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
6,369 |
2,684Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Hardwick and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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 | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | — | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.