Compare towns
Hardwick vs Webster vs Thompson vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the highest household income ($94k).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Thompson | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
17,748Highest |
9,337 |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
49±3.2 26% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 7% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$81,940±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Thompson and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Webster and Hardwick 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. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,283±$553Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Bernardston and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,516Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Bernardston 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Webster | Thompson School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.