Compare towns
Ware vs Sheffield vs Athol 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 people working from home (12.3%).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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.
| Measure | Ware | Sheffield | Athol | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
3,330 |
12,011Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
48.2±8Highest 21% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
| Sheffield 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% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Sheffield 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% MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$92,120±$31kHighest 11% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Sheffield 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 48% below MA |
$409,400±$32kHighest 27% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Sheffield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Sheffield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$4,520Highest 25% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 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% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #250 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Southern Berkshire | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Mt Everett Regional | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
7.8Lowest |
11.6Highest |
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| 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.