Compare towns

Ware vs Seekonk vs Hardwick

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).
Seekonk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.2%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).

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.

MeasureWareSeekonkHardwick
People
Population
10,048
15,694Highest
2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
MA: +7.4%
+13.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-10.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.7Lowest
8% above MA
46±3Highest
15% above MA
45.3±9.8
13% above MA
Seekonk and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.1%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.7%±3
MA: 19.4%
20.5%±5.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
Hardwick and Seekonk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.4
MA: 17.9%
17.9%±2.6Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±5Highest
MA: 17.9%
Hardwick and Ware 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%
43.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
30.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±4.4Highest
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
$120,613±$6kHighest
16% above MA
$75,000±$22k
28% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$289,700±$28kLowest
48% below MA
$482,800±$16kHighest
14% below MA
$346,700±$67k
38% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,043±$109Lowest
41% below MA
$1,916±$165Highest
9% above MA
$1,108±$119
37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,237Lowest
29% below MA
$4,956Highest
17% below MA
$4,400
27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.3%±16.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
54.9%±19.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
59%±13.8
MA: 51.8%
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%Highest
MA: 10%
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
11%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%
MA: 62.5%
87%Highest
MA: 62.5%
68.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
1967
3 yrs newer than MA
1968Highest
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
about the MA average
29 min
about the MA average
31 minHighest
7% above MA
Work from home
12.3%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
20.1%±4.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.7%±4.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Seekonk 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 #70 of 282 in MA #163 of 282 in MA
School district Ware Seekonk Quabbin
High school in town Ware Junior/Senior High School Seekonk High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
10.6Lowest
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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.