Compare towns
Hardwick vs Hanson 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).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($513k median).
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 | Hanson | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Highest |
1,927 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-4.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
44±4.3Lowest 10% 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% |
25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson 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% |
19.7%±4.5Lowest 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% |
35.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Petersham 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 |
$119,211±$24kHighest 15% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
| Hanson and Petersham 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 |
$513,000±$55kHighest 9% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
— | $1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,429Highest 7% above MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
— | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Hanson 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.