Compare towns
Ware vs Reading vs Windham 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).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Windham | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
699 |
594Lowest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Windham and Reading 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. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Reading and Windham 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. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,108±$119Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Reading 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. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Windham 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.