Compare towns
Ware vs Salisbury vs Hardwick vs Athol
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 people working from home (12.3%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Salisbury | Hardwick | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
1,200Lowest |
2,684 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest 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% |
30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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% |
34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 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. |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$306,900±$51k 8% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Salisbury 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. |
$1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Athol 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. |
$4,842Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Athol 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 | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Quabbin | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Athol High |
| 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.