Compare towns
Hardwick vs Killingly vs Petersham vs New Braintree
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).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
New Braintree has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
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 | Killingly | Petersham | New Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
17,867Highest |
1,185 |
973Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
47.8±4.6 23% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and New Braintree 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% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and New Braintree 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% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Killingly 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. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$99,500±$8k 23% above U.S. |
| Petersham and New Braintree 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. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
$408,800±$27kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| New Braintree and Petersham 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. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,484±$316 5% above U.S. |
| Petersham and New Braintree 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
$5,508Highest 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±51.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and New Braintree 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
37 min 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±3.4Lowest 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Petersham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | 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.