Compare towns
Hanson vs Hardwick vs Webster
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 highest household income ($132k).
Hardwick has the most people working from home (8.7%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
2,684Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest 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%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Hardwick and Webster 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Quabbin | Webster |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| 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.