Compare towns
Ware vs Dover vs Hardwick vs Winchendon
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Dover | Hardwick | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
2,308Lowest |
2,684 |
10,440Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Dover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchendon and Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7 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% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$75,690±$14k 27% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
— | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA |
| Winchendon and Hardwick 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$3,780Lowest 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | — | Quabbin | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | None in town | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.