Compare towns
Hardwick vs Fall River vs Petersham
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 affordable homes ($347k median).
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Fall River | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
94,082Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| 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%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Fall River 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% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Fall River 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 28% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
| 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 38% below MA |
$395,500±$11kHighest 30% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Fall River and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | B M C Durfee High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.