Compare towns
Ware vs Loudon vs Hardwick vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Loudon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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 | Loudon | Hardwick | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
5,692 |
2,684Lowest |
6,369 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
49.5±3.2Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Loudon and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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% |
22%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Loudon 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% |
29.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$106,966±$16kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Loudon 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 13% below U.S. |
$363,400±$48kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Loudon 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 26% below U.S. |
$1,321±$465Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Loudon and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$5,821Highest 87% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±30.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #99 of 120 in NH | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Merrimack Valley School District | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.