Compare towns
Acton vs Hardwick vs Newfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Newfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Acton | Hardwick | Newfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Highest |
2,684 |
1,580Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S. |
52.8±8.1 36% above U.S. |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$57,188±$20kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Acton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$318,100±$27kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 14% below U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$2,402Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 53% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
49 minHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Quabbin | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.