Compare towns
Ware vs Bernardston vs Athol vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Ware | Bernardston | Athol | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
2,164Lowest |
12,011Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest 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 | $67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$81,940±$10kHighest 21% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$332,000±$15k 41% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
| Hardwick and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,283±$553Highest 27% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Bernardston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$4,516Highest 25% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 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 | 11.8% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bernardston and Ware 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Pioneer Valley | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
— |
| 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.