What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).

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	Athol	Hardwick
People
Population	8,801Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA	45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA
	Hardwick and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	30.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,394±$8kLowest 35% below MA	$75,000±$22kHighest 28% below MA
	Hardwick and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA	$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,120±$173Highest 36% below MA	$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA
	Athol and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,170Lowest 47% below MA	$4,400Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8%	59%±13.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21%Highest MA: 10%	11%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 10% below MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	9.7%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6%	8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Athol 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	#256 of 282 in MA	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Quabbin
High school 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.