Compare towns
Ware vs Ossipee vs Hardwick vs Winchendon
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Ossipee has the highest household income ($91k).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Ossipee | Hardwick | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
4,521 |
2,684Lowest |
10,440Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ossipee 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% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest 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% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Winchendon 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. |
$90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Hardwick and Ossipee 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. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Winchendon 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. |
$4,401Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,780Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee 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% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Winchendon 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #163 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Quabbin | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.