What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).

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	Middlesex	Hardwick
People
Population	1,943Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Middlesex and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S.	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Middlesex and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S.	$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Middlesex and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S.	$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Middlesex and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,483Highest 108% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.