Compare towns
Wareham Center vs Upton vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering Wareham CenterWeweantic
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wareham Center has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Hardwick has the most affordable 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 | Wareham Center | Upton | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,635 |
8,189Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±6.9Highest 27% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
| Wareham Center and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±6.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham Center and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,936±$8k 12% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,700±$54k 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$537Highest 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Wareham Center and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,217Lowest 30% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.9%±27.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Wareham Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.5%±13 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Wareham Center 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.