Compare towns
Hardwick vs Petersham vs Thompson
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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Petersham | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
1,185Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2 39% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Thompson 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% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Petersham 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. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Thompson 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. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below 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. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Thompson 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% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham and Thompson 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Quabbin | Petersham | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9 |
| 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.