Compare towns
Petersham vs Phillipston vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Phillipston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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.
| Measure | Petersham | Phillipston | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185Lowest |
1,895 |
2,684Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
48.8±1.7 22% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17%±5 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$94,692±$14k 9% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Petersham and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$372,400±$27k 34% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Petersham and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,375±$849 22% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Petersham and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$3,914Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
92.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Phillipston 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 | Petersham | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.