What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).

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	Shirley
People
Population	2,684Lowest	6,976Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA	44.3±3.4Lowest 11% above MA
	Hardwick and Shirley 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%	16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hardwick and Shirley 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%	19.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hardwick and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	36.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick and Shirley 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	$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA	$427,600±$36kHighest 24% below MA
	Shirley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA	$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA
	Shirley and Hardwick 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	$5,156Highest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8%	57.1%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hardwick and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest MA: 10%	9.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	40 minHighest 39% above MA
Work from home	8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#163 of 282 in MA	#239 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.