Compare towns
Hardwick vs Lee 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).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Lee | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
4,576Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest 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% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Lee 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. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20k 37% above U.S. |
| Lee 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±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Lee 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Oyster River Coop School District | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.