What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).

Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).

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	Sterling
People
Population	2,684Lowest	3,629Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S.	39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average
	Hardwick and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sterling and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Sterling 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.	$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S.
	Sterling 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.	$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Sterling 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.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.	$4,551Highest 46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Sterling 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%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sterling 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	#119 of 149 in CT
School district	Quabbin	Sterling School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.