Compare towns
Ware vs Pelham vs Hardwick
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 the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Pelham | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
14,449Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ware 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% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Pelham 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. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Pelham School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.