Compare towns
Warren vs Hardwick vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Warren | Hardwick | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,009 |
2,684Lowest |
6,369Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 23.2% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
$75,000±$22kHighest 28% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Hardwick and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| Hardwick and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Hardwick 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.