Compare towns
Hardwick vs Springfield vs Worcester
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 homeowners (68.2%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Hardwick 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22kHighest 28% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Hardwick and Worcester 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
| Worcester 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 |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.