Compare towns
Hardwick vs Dover vs Hinsdale
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).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
Hinsdale has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Dover | Hinsdale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Highest |
2,308 |
1,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.8±10.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Dover 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Hinsdale 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% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Hinsdale 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$77,845±$17k 25% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$267,600±$35kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
— | $1,109±$118Highest 37% below MA |
| Hinsdale and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,065Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.3%±24.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #163 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Central Berkshire |
| High school 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.