Compare towns
Goshen vs Hardwick vs Petersham
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 most people working from home (19.1%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Petersham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
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 | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 915Lowest |
2,684Highest |
1,185 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±5.8Highest 45% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
| Goshen and Petersham 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% |
12.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Goshen and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest 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±$10k 5% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
| Petersham and Goshen 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 |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
| Petersham 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±$119 37% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,022Highest 16% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±66.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Goshen and Hardwick 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% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.1%±7.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Goshen and Petersham 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 | Petersham |
| 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.