Compare towns
Hardwick vs Everett vs Bernardston vs Petersham
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).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
50,045Highest |
2,164 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
49±3.2 23% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest 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%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest 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% |
4%±1.7 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±$7k 18% below MA |
$81,940±$10k 21% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
| Petersham and Everett 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 |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,283±$553 27% below MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
| Everett and Petersham 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 |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,516 25% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%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 |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Everett | Pioneer Valley | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.