What stands out worked out from the figures below

Adams has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.8%).

Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Adams	Hardwick
People
Population	8,074Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA	45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA
	Adams and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hardwick and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Adams and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	30.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,929±$6kLowest 43% below MA	$75,000±$22kHighest 28% below MA
	Hardwick and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA	$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$963±$74Lowest 45% below MA	$1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA
	Hardwick and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,638Lowest 39% below MA	$4,400Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8%	59%±13.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Adams and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.2%Highest MA: 10%	11%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 19% below MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	8.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hardwick and Adams 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	#230 of 282 in MA	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Hoosac Valley Regional	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.