Compare towns
Hardwick vs Hanson vs Ware 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Ware | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
10,660Highest |
10,048 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 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%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 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% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Hanson 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 |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below 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±$67k 38% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
| Hanson and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Whitman-Hanson | Ware | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.