What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (-8.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chester	Hardwick
People
Population	1,240Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA	45.3±9.8Lowest 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%	20.5%±5.6Lowest 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%	22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hardwick and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	30.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick and Chester 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	$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA
	Chester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$281,900±$14kLowest 50% 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	$1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA
	Hardwick and Chester 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	$4,400Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.1%±22.6Lowest 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%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	7%±2.7Lowest 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	Quabbin
High school in town	None 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.