Compare towns
Hardwick vs Pelham 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 renters (31.8% rent).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Pelham | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Highest |
1,335Lowest |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
45±8.4Lowest 13% 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% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest 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±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA |
$81,940±$10k 21% below MA |
| Pelham and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
$1,283±$553Highest 27% below MA |
| Bernardston and Pelham 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 |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
$4,516 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
10.3% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #163 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Pelham | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.