Compare towns
Ware vs Windsor Locks 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
12,579Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
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%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% 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. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 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. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Windsor Locks School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.