Compare towns
Hampden vs Hardwick vs Hubbardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Hubbardston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
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 | Hampden | Hardwick | Hubbardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946Highest |
2,684Lowest |
4,371 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-1.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
46.8±9.1 17% above MA |
| Hampden and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
20.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
33.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,536±$16k about the MA average |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$123,500±$24kHighest 19% above MA |
| Hubbardston and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,200±$16k 36% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$371,600±$18kHighest 34% below MA |
| Hubbardston and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107Highest 36% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$953±$206Lowest 46% below MA |
| Hampden and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,181Highest 3% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,716 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.4%±67.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hubbardston and Hampden 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 | #199 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #128 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Quabbin | Quabbin |
| 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.