Compare towns
Petersham vs Rowley 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%).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Rowley | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185Lowest |
6,251Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
50±6.3 25% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
| Petersham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rowley and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Petersham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636 23% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Rowley 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 | — | #214 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Petersham | Triton | Quabbin |
| 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 |
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.