What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hawley has the most people working from home (19.3%).

Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hawley	Hardwick
People
Population	277Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-10.8% MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.8±7.2Highest 42% above MA	45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA
	Hawley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±10Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hardwick and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37.2%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±5.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,500±$26kHighest 16% below MA	$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA
	Hawley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,600±$38kLowest 45% below MA	$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA
	Hardwick and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,108±$119 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,097Lowest 32% below MA	$4,400Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hardwick and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	19.3%±12.6Highest MA: 18.6%	8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hawley and Hardwick 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
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.