Compare towns

New Braintree vs Westhampton vs Hardwick

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westhampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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.

MeasureNew BraintreeWesthamptonHardwick
People
Population
973Lowest
1,552
2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.3%
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-10.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.8±4.6
20% above MA
49.3±4.9Highest
23% above MA
45.3±9.8Lowest
13% above MA
Westhampton and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±4.4
MA: 19.4%
18%±4.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.5%±5.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
Hardwick and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.6%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
25.4%±2.8
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
New Braintree and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.4%
MA: 47.3%
47%Highest
MA: 47.3%
30.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±2.4
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±4.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
Hardwick and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,500±$8k
4% below MA
$100,000±$7kHighest
4% below MA
$75,000±$22kLowest
28% below MA
Westhampton and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$408,800±$27k
27% below MA
$413,200±$24kHighest
26% below MA
$346,700±$67kLowest
38% below MA
Westhampton and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,484±$316Highest
16% below MA
$1,304±$229
26% below MA
$1,108±$119Lowest
37% below MA
New Braintree and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,508
8% below MA
$6,476Highest
8% above MA
$4,400Lowest
27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.4%±51.2
MA: 51.8%
33.3%±53.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
59%±13.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
Hardwick and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.2%
MA: 10%
6.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
11%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.8%
MA: 62.5%
91.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
68.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
23 yrs newer than MA
1969
5 yrs newer than MA
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
26% above MA
29 minLowest
about the MA average
31 min
7% above MA
Work from home
7.4%±3.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
14.1%±4Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.7%±4.3
MA: 18.6%
Westhampton 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 Quabbin Hampshire · Westhampton Quabbin
High school in town None in town Hampshire Regional High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.0
—
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.