Compare towns
Ware vs North Smithfield 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
North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | North Smithfield | Hardwick | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
12,708Highest |
2,684Lowest |
6,369 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%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. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| North Smithfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 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% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and North Smithfield 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% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield 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. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield 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. |
$5,219Highest 67% 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% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest 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% |
4.8%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% |
77.9%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. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older 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. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and North Smithfield 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 | #13 of 38 in RI | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | North Smithfield | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | North Smitfield HS | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.