Compare towns
Hardwick vs Everett vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 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 | Everett | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
50,045Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below 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%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Hardwick 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 |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$81,940±$10k 21% below MA |
| Everett and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,283±$553 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,516 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bernardston and Everett 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Everett | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.