Compare towns
Rochester vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
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.
| Measure | Rochester | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 5,837Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6Highest 16% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
| Rochester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $120,273±$12kHighest 16% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $599,100±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,432±$743Highest 19% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Rochester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,530Highest 9% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 25% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hardwick and Rochester 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
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| 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.