Compare towns
Hardwick vs Lynn vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most homeowners (68.2%).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Lynn | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
101,709 |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Hardwick and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield 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±$22k 28% below MA |
$75,043±$3kHighest 28% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Lynn and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Hardwick and Springfield 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 | #277 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Lynn | Springfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Lynn English High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.0Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.