Compare towns
Ware vs Easthampton vs Hardwick vs New Salem
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).
Easthampton has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
New Salem has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Easthampton | Hardwick | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
16,086Highest |
2,684 |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
46±2.6 15% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest 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% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±6.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and New Salem 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% |
38%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
35.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Easthampton 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 |
$71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$79,688±$19kHighest 23% below MA |
| New Salem 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±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$371,500±$15kHighest 34% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$359,000±$40k 36% below MA |
| Easthampton and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,194±$88 32% below MA |
| Easthampton and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,509 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| New Salem and Ware 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% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
9.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
23 min 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.4%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| New Salem and Easthampton 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 | #92 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ware | Easthampton | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Easthampton High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.