Compare towns
Middlefield vs Hardwick vs Tolland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Tolland has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
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 | Middlefield | Hardwick | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
2,684Highest |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
51.7±7.2 29% above MA |
| Middlefield and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±5.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$106,250±$10kHighest about the MA average |
| Tolland and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$355,700±$22kHighest 37% below MA |
| Tolland and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
— |
| Middlefield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$2,714Lowest 55% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield and Tolland 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 | 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.