Compare towns
Hardwick vs Needham vs Petersham
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 renters (31.8% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
32,459Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Needham 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 28% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #163 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Needham | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.