Compare towns
Ware vs Dudley vs Ware vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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 | Dudley | Ware | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
11,929Highest |
6,369 |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
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%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Dudley 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% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 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% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Dudley 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 |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Dudley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Dudley 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 |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
27 min 6% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.