Compare towns
Halifax 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
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Halifax | Hardwick | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
2,684 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
| Halifax and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
| Halifax and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Halifax | Quabbin | Petersham |
| 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.