Compare towns
Gill vs Hardwick vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
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 | Gill | Hardwick | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,740 |
2,684Highest |
1,627Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
49.6±8.7Highest 24% above MA |
| Colrain and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±8.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Colrain and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gill and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,208±$14kHighest 13% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
| Gill and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$17k 39% below MA |
$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Hardwick and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$246Highest 32% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Gill and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,318 28% below MA |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Gill and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 29% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Gill 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gill-Montague | Quabbin | Mohawk Trail |
| 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.