Compare towns
Hanson vs Hardwick vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($513k median).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Chesterfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
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 | Hanson | Hardwick | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927 |
2,684Highest |
1,055Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Lowest 10% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
44.3±7.6 11% above MA |
| Hardwick and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Chesterfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24kHighest 15% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$103,967±$11k about the MA average |
| Hanson and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55kHighest 9% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$390,800±$48k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA |
$1,078±$409Lowest 39% below MA |
| Hardwick and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Highest 7% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,969 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
10.3%±84.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.4%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Chesterfield and Hanson 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Chesterfield-Goshen |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.