Compare towns
Ware vs Dedham vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Ware | Dedham | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
25,237Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Dedham 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.