Compare towns
Ware vs Brighton vs Hardwick vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Brighton | Hardwick | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
1,167Lowest |
2,684 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Athol and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,403 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 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 | 11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Brighton School District | Quabbin | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.6Highest |
| 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.