Compare towns
Montague vs Hardwick vs Erving
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montague has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Erving has the most homeowners (81.5%).
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 | Montague | Hardwick | Erving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,482Highest |
2,684 |
1,703Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.1 11% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
| Hardwick and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Montague and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,510±$12kLowest 32% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$77,656±$9kHighest 25% below MA |
| Erving and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,100±$17k 50% below MA |
$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
| Hardwick and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$115Highest 31% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
| Montague and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 35% below MA |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Montague and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Montague 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 | #265 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague | Quabbin | Erving |
| High school in town | Franklin County Technical | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — |
| 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.