Compare towns
Middlesex vs Hardwick vs Monkton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Middlesex | Hardwick | Monkton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
2,684Highest |
1,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
47.1±5.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Monkton and Hardwick 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%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.8Lowest 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% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest 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±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$119,688±$28kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Monkton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$379,900±$18kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Monkton and Middlesex 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. |
$1,301±$120 8% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Monkton 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. |
$5,887 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±64Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monkton and Hardwick 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% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Monkton 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quabbin | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| 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.