Compare towns
Ware vs Winchester vs Putnam 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%).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Winchester | Putnam | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
10,284Highest |
9,292 |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Winchester 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% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Ware 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% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester 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% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 16% below U.S. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Putnam 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. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 26% below U.S. |
$1,174±$116Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Winchester and Putnam 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. |
$4,780Highest 53% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Putnam 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Putnam School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Northwestern Regional High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.7 |
9.5Lowest |
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| 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.