Compare towns
Hardwick vs Webster vs Hinsdale
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 renters (31.8% rent).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Hinsdale has the shortest commute (23 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 | Hinsdale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Highest |
2,227 |
1,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
43.8±10.1Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Hinsdale 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% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hinsdale and Hardwick 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. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$77,845±$17k 4% below U.S. |
| Webster and Hinsdale 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. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$267,600±$35kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$118 22% below U.S. |
| Webster and Hinsdale 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,065Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±24.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Webster 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% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #163 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Merrimack Valley School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.