Compare towns
Goshen vs Hardwick vs Ashfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goshen has the highest household income ($99k).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Ashfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
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 | Goshen | Hardwick | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 915Lowest |
2,684Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±5.8 45% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
| Ashfield and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.5% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,906±$10kHighest 5% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
| Goshen and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$25k 37% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$400,600±$30kHighest 29% below MA |
| Ashfield and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $869±$727Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
| Hardwick and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,022 16% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±66.5 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
9.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.1%±7.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield and Goshen 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 | — | Quabbin | Mohawk Trail |
| High school 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.