Compare towns
Ware vs Hooksett vs Winchendon vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Winchendon has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Hooksett | Winchendon | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
15,057Highest |
10,440 |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Winchendon 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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 16% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,780Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Winchendon 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #269 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Hooksett School District | Winchendon | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Murdock High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.