Compare towns
Ware vs Ludlow vs Orange vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
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 | Ludlow | Orange | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
20,904Highest |
7,573 |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Ludlow 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% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Ludlow 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 35% below MA |
$84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Ludlow 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 |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
| Hardwick and Ludlow 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 |
$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Ludlow 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 |
$4,918Highest 18% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow 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 | #154 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Ludlow | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ludlow Senior High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
9.0Lowest |
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| 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.