Compare towns
Windsor 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
Windsor has the highest household income ($116k).
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 | Windsor | Hardwick | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,065Lowest |
2,684 |
6,369Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest 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+ | 18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest 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 | $115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| Windsor and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 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 | $3,867 35% below MA |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest 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 | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.