Compare towns
Hardwick vs Rowley vs Hinsdale
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).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Hinsdale has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Rowley | Hinsdale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
6,251Highest |
1,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
43.8±10.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
15%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Hinsdale 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% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hinsdale and Hardwick 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 |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$77,845±$17k 25% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$267,600±$35kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA |
$1,109±$118 37% below MA |
| Rowley and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$3,065Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
38.3%±24.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Rowley 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Triton | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.