Compare towns
Ware vs Reading vs Hardwick vs New Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
New Salem has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Reading | Hardwick | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
25,612Highest |
2,684 |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
| New Salem 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±6.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| New Salem 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
35.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 35% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$79,688±$19k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$359,000±$40k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,194±$88 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,509 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| New Salem 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 MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
9.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.4%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and New Salem 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ware | Reading | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Reading Memorial High | 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 |
MA 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.