Compare towns
Webster vs Ware vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Hardwick has the most homeowners (68.2%).
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 | Webster | Ware | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
6,369 |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$75,000±$22kHighest 28% below MA |
| Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Webster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Webster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 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 | 12.7% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.