Compare towns
Ware vs New Salem 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%).
New Salem has the most people working from home (19.4%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | New Salem | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
1,054Lowest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
| New Salem 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 MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest 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% |
23.7%±6.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| New Salem and Hardwick 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% |
35.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$79,688±$19kHighest 23% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% 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 |
$359,000±$40kHighest 36% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| New Salem 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 41% below MA |
$1,194±$88Highest 32% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| New Salem and Hardwick 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 |
$4,509Highest 25% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Lowest 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% |
9.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.4%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| New Salem 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.