What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).

Palmer Town has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hardwick	Palmer Town
People
Population	2,684Lowest	12,381Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA	47.8±5.6Highest 20% above MA
	Palmer Town and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4%	15.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hardwick and Palmer Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%	20.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hardwick and Palmer Town 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%	23.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick and Palmer Town 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	$78,480±$8kHighest 25% below MA
	Palmer Town 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	$271,400±$21kLowest 52% below MA
	Hardwick and Palmer Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA	$1,075±$103Lowest 39% below MA
	Hardwick and Palmer Town 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	$4,540Highest 24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8%	52.9%±10.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hardwick and Palmer Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest MA: 10%	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	8.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	7.3%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hardwick and Palmer Town 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	#252 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Palmer · Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	None in town	Pathfinder Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.