Compare towns

Ware vs Woonsocket vs Ware 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 homeowners (72.3%).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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.

MeasureWareWoonsocketWareHardwick
People
Population
10,048
43,521Highest
6,369
2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-10.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
39.8±6
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%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
20.6%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±3.9
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%
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
15.4%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%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
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.
$61,059±$5k
24% below U.S.
$45,158±$11kLowest
44% below U.S.
$75,000±$22kHighest
7% below U.S.
Hardwick and Ware 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.
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
$253,400±$31kLowest
24% below U.S.
$346,700±$67kHighest
4% above U.S.
Hardwick and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,043±$109
26% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Highest
18% below U.S.
$1,039±$104Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,108±$119
22% below U.S.
Woonsocket 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.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
$3,408Lowest
9% above U.S.
$4,400Highest
41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.3%±16.2
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±17.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±13.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Ware 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%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
11%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
68.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.7%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Ware 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 #267 of 282 in MA #163 of 282 in MA
School district Ware RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket — Quabbin
High school in town Ware Junior/Senior High School Woonsocket High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
15.2Highest
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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.