Compare towns
Hardwick vs Orange 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 expensive homes ($347k median).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Bernardston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
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 | Orange | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
7,573Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Bernardston 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$81,940±$10kHighest 21% below MA |
| Bernardston 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±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$332,000±$15k 41% below MA |
| Hardwick and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,283±$553Highest 27% below MA |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,516Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bernardston and Hardwick 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.