Compare towns
Ware vs Townsend vs Hardwick vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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 | Townsend | Hardwick | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
9,100 |
2,684Lowest |
6,369 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 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% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| Townsend and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
| Townsend and Hardwick 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | North Middlesex | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.