Compare towns
Hardwick vs Orange vs Woonsocket vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Woonsocket | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
7,573 |
43,521Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Woonsocket 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 7% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham 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±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
15.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.