Compare towns
Carver vs Hardwick vs Middleborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carver has the most homeowners (88.7%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Middleborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Carver | Hardwick | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,712 |
2,684Lowest |
24,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 15% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43.4±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Carver and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Carver and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
32%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$23k 12% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$97,056±$7kHighest 7% below MA |
| Middleborough and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,200±$21k 23% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$468,700±$18kHighest 17% below MA |
| Middleborough and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,827±$345Highest 4% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,706±$72 3% below MA |
| Carver and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,455Highest 8% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Carver and Middleborough 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 | #237 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carver | Quabbin | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Carver Middle/High School | None in town | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| 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.