Compare towns
Hardwick vs Webster vs Hanson
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 people working from home (8.7%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
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 | Webster | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
17,748Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Hardwick and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Hanson 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Webster 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hardwick and Webster 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Webster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.