Compare towns
Berkley vs Hardwick vs Southampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkley has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Southampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Berkley | Hardwick | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,829Highest |
2,684Lowest |
6,230 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1Lowest 9% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.4±3.5Lowest 9% above MA |
| Hardwick and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Berkley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$123,125±$23k 18% above MA |
| Berkley and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45kHighest 9% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$452,300±$25k 20% below MA |
| Berkley and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018Highest about the MA average |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,470 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berkley 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 | #155 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Quabbin | Southampton |
| 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 |
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.