Compare towns
Madison vs Hardwick vs New Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
New Durham has the most people working from home (10%).
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 | Madison | Hardwick | New Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Lowest |
2,684 |
2,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.5±7.5 20% above U.S. |
| Madison and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Durham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$100,194±$13k 24% above U.S. |
| Madison and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$339,400±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Madison and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,417±$116 about the U.S. average |
| Madison and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$5,774Highest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±42.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Durham 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 | Madison School District | Quabbin | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| 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.