Compare towns
Ware vs Beverly 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
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Ware | Beverly | Athol | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
42,665Highest |
12,011 |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and Ware 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% |
18.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 24% MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Beverly and Hardwick 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 |
$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,771±$106Highest about the MA average |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$6,836Highest 14% above 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% |
55.5%±7.2Lowest 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% |
9.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Beverly | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Beverly High | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.6 |
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| 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.