Compare towns
Ware vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k 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 | Springfield | Athol | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
154,749Highest |
12,011 |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and Ware 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Athol 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$75,000±$22kHighest 28% below MA |
| Hardwick and Athol 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
| Hardwick and Ware 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 |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Athol and Springfield 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 |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Lowest 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Springfield | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Springfield Central High | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.6 |
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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.