Compare towns
Ware vs Warren vs Warwick 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).
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 | Warren | Warwick | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
5,009 |
776Lowest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
51.4±7.3Highest 29% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
| Warwick 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% |
20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Warren 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% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Warwick 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% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest 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±$15k 35% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$93,333±$22kHighest 10% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Warwick 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 |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$349,400±$34kHighest 38% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Warwick 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 |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,367±$163Highest 22% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Warwick and Hardwick 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 |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3 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% |
9% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Warwick 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | — | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Quaboag Regional | Warwick | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Quaboag Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.