Compare towns
Worcester 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
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Ware | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
6,369 |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest 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+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest 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+ | 35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$75,000±$22kHighest 28% below MA |
| Hardwick and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Worcester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Lowest 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 | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | South High Community | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
— | — |
| 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.