Compare towns
Hardwick vs North Reading 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).
North Reading 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 | North Reading | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
15,765Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
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% |
56.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
| North Reading 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 38% below MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
| North Reading and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | North Reading | Petersham |
| 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.