Compare towns
Hardwick vs Hatfield vs Windsor Locks vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Hatfield has the most expensive homes ($441k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Hatfield | Windsor Locks | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
3,325 |
12,579Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Windsor Locks 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 7% below U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,930Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Hatfield | Windsor Locks School District | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | Smith Academy | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1Lowest |
8.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.