Compare towns
Chester vs Erving vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Erving has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Hardwick has the most people working from home (8.7%).
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 | Chester | Erving | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240Lowest |
1,703 |
2,684Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
| Chester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Chester and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
| Hardwick and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Erving and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522Highest 25% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hardwick and Chester 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 | Gateway | Erving | Quabbin |
| 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.