Compare towns
Ware vs Spencer 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).
Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Spencer | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
12,008Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
| Spencer 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer 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% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Spencer 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 |
$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Spencer 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±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Spencer 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 |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA |
| Hardwick and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest 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% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Spencer-E Brookfield | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | David Prouty High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.