Compare towns
Hardwick vs Hanover 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 renters (31.8% rent).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Hanover | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
14,845Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% 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%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover 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% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Hanover 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 |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
| Hanover 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 |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover 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% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Hanover and Petersham 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.