What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hancock	Hardwick
People
Population	752Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±11.1Highest 18% above MA	45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA
	Hancock and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hardwick and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hancock and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,250±$26kHighest 7% below MA	$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA
	Hancock and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,500±$21kHighest 33% below MA	$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA
	Hancock and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,268±$415Highest 28% below MA	$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA
	Hancock and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,018Lowest 83% below MA	$4,400Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±36.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hardwick and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Lowest MA: 10%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 25% below MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	10.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hancock 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	Hancock	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.