Compare towns
Hardwick vs Windsor 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 renters (31.8% rent).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Windsor | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
1,065Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Hardwick and Windsor 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% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest 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% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Hanson 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 |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
| Hanson and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
— | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Hardwick 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 |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #163 of 282 in MA | — | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| 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.