Compare towns
Reading vs Hardwick vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Reading | Hardwick | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
2,684Lowest |
6,369 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest 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 | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.