Compare towns
Ware vs Plainfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Plainfield | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
1,314Lowest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Plainfield 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% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest 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±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Plainfield 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. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Plainfield 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. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 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.