Compare towns

Ware vs Warwick vs Woonsocket vs Hardwick

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

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.

MeasureWareWarwickWoonsocketHardwick
People
Population
10,048
776Lowest
43,521Highest
2,684
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
0%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-10.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
51.4±7.3Highest
32% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
45.3±9.8
16% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
9.9%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket 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
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hardwick and Woonsocket 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
16% below U.S.
$93,333±$22kHighest
16% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$75,000±$22k
7% below U.S.
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
13% below U.S.
$349,400±$34kHighest
5% above U.S.
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
$346,700±$67k
4% above U.S.
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±$109Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,367±$163Highest
3% below U.S.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
$1,108±$119
22% below U.S.
Warwick and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,237
36% above U.S.
$4,380
40% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$4,400Highest
41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.3%±57.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±13.8
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
68.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
40 minHighest
52% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
22.4%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.7%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #37 of 38 in RI #163 of 282 in MA
School district Ware Warwick RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Quabbin
High school in town Ware Junior/Senior High School None in town Woonsocket High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
—
15.2Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.