Compare towns
Ware vs Webster vs Killingly 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 people working from home (12.3%).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Killingly has the highest household income ($84k).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Webster | Killingly | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
12,228 |
17,867Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Webster 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. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Killingly 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±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Webster 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. |
$1,198±$85Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Webster and Hardwick 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. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Killingly 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.