Compare towns
Ware vs Randolph vs Athol 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
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Randolph | Athol | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
2,007Lowest |
12,011Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
50.5±7.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Randolph 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% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol 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% |
24.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph 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% |
42.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Randolph and Hardwick 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. |
$75,069±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Randolph 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. |
$235,400±$25kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ware 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. |
$1,095±$198 23% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Athol 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. |
$4,507Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±20.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick 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% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #256 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | — | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
— |
| 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.