Compare towns
Hardwick vs Gardner 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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Gardner | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
21,148Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
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% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% 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±$67k 38% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
| Petersham and Hardwick 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 |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Gardner | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.