Compare towns
Hardwick vs Putnam 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 expensive homes ($347k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
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 | Putnam | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
9,292 |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Putnam 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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 4% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Thompson 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. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Quabbin | Putnam School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.