Compare towns
Hardwick vs Chesterfield vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Chesterfield has the highest household income ($104k).
Bernardston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
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 | Chesterfield | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Highest |
1,055Lowest |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.9% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
44.3±7.6Lowest 11% above MA |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
| Bernardston 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% |
19.1%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Chesterfield 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% |
24.3%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Chesterfield and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% MA: 47.3% |
34.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$103,967±$11kHighest about the MA average |
$81,940±$10k 21% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$390,800±$48kHighest 30% below MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Chesterfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,078±$409Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,283±$553Highest 27% below MA |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,969Highest about the MA average |
$4,516 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
10.3%±84.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.4%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Chesterfield and Bernardston 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 | Quabbin | Chesterfield-Goshen | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.