Compare towns
Hardwick vs Hinsdale vs Killingly 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 renters (31.8% rent).
Hinsdale has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Hinsdale | Killingly | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
1,859 |
17,867Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
43.8±10.1 13% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Killingly 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% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hinsdale and Hardwick 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. |
$77,845±$17k 4% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Killingly 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. |
$267,600±$35kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| 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±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,109±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,065Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±24.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham and Killingly 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Central Berkshire | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.