Compare towns
Hardwick vs Central Falls vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Hardwick | Central Falls | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
22,701Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | Central Falls Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.