Compare towns
Petersham vs Westminster 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%).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
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.
| Measure | Petersham | Westminster | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185Lowest |
8,374Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Hardwick 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% |
26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Westminster 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% |
45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Petersham and Westminster 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 |
$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Westminster and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Westminster and Petersham 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 |
$4,973Highest 17% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster 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% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.6% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Westminster 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 | — | #112 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Petersham | Ashburnham-Westminster | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
— |
| 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.