What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).

Adams has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.8%).

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	Hardwick	Adams
People
Population	2,684Lowest	8,074Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-3.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA	47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA
	Adams and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hardwick and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%	25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Adams and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,000±$22kHighest 28% below MA	$58,929±$6kLowest 43% below MA
	Hardwick and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA	$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA	$963±$74Lowest 45% below MA
	Hardwick and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,400Highest 27% below MA	$3,638Lowest 39% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±13.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.1%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Adams and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Lowest MA: 10%	13.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	24 minLowest 19% below MA
Work from home	8.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hardwick and Adams 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	#230 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Hoosac Valley Regional
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.