Compare towns
Seekonk vs Hardwick vs Belchertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Seekonk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.2%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Belchertown has the youngest population (median age 43.9).
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 | Seekonk | Hardwick | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,694Highest |
2,684Lowest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±3Highest 15% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA |
| Seekonk and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Seekonk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $120,613±$6kHighest 16% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$108,068±$15k 4% above MA |
| Seekonk and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,800±$16kHighest 14% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$371,300±$12k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,916±$165Highest 9% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,292±$230 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956 17% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,810Highest 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±19.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Seekonk and Belchertown 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 | #70 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Seekonk | Quabbin | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Seekonk High | None in town | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| 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.