What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).

Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pelham	Hardwick
People
Population	1,335Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA	45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA
	Hardwick and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Pelham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Pelham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA	$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA
	Pelham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA	$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,205±$560Highest 32% below MA	$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA
	Pelham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,472Highest 25% above MA	$4,400Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hardwick and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Lowest MA: 10%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%	8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Pelham	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.