Compare towns
Hardwick vs Jaffrey 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).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Jaffrey | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
5,448Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
42.9±3.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
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%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey and Hardwick 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% |
18.5%±3.8Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 7% below U.S. |
$92,330±$18k 14% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Jaffrey 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. |
$245,500±$27kLowest 26% 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. |
$962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,196Highest 99% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Jaffrey 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham and Hardwick 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 | #87 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 21.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.