Compare towns
Hardwick vs Tyringham vs Petersham
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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k median).
Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).
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 | Tyringham | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Highest |
494Lowest |
1,185 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | -3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
| Tyringham and Petersham 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% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Tyringham and Petersham 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Petersham 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 |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,632 23% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
60%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Tyringham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.9% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham and Petersham 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 | — | — |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Petersham |
| High school 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.