Compare towns
Troy vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has the highest household income ($89k).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
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 | Troy | Hardwick | Ware | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,005 |
2,684 |
6,369Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±5 3% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,871±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Troy and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,600±$39k 20% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,024±$331Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,229 68% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.1%±27.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Bennington 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Quabbin | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.