Compare towns
Hardwick vs Nottingham vs Bernardston
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).
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
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 | Nottingham | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
5,357Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nottingham 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% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Nottingham 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. |
$122,201±$20kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$81,940±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$457,500±$26kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$332,000±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,068±$1kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$1,283±$553 9% below U.S. |
| Nottingham and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$7,319Highest 135% above U.S. |
$4,516 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nottingham and Hardwick 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nottingham and Bernardston 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Nottingham School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.