Compare towns
Hardwick vs North Reading vs Bernardston
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).
North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Bernardston 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 | North Reading | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
15,765Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
| Bernardston 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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| North Reading 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% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston 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% MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and North Reading 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 |
$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$81,940±$10k 21% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,283±$553 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$4,516 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #163 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | North Reading | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | North Reading High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| 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.