Compare towns
Belvidere vs Guildhall vs Hardwick vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Montgomery has the most people working from home (16%).
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 | Belvidere | Guildhall | Hardwick | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422 |
371Lowest |
2,684Highest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Montgomery and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18k about the U.S. average |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
| Hardwick and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$868±$209 39% below U.S. |
| Belvidere and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,326 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Montgomery and Belvidere 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 | — |
| School district | — | — | Quabbin | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.