What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelburne has the most people working from home (17.7%).

Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Shelburne	Hardwick
People
Population	1,567Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	57±7.3Highest 43% above MA	45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA
	Shelburne and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hardwick and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,000±$4kHighest 20% below MA	$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA
	Shelburne and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$405,400±$32kHighest 28% below MA	$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA
	Shelburne and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA	$1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA
	Hardwick and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,595Highest 23% below MA	$4,400Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hardwick and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Lowest MA: 10%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	17.7%±6Highest MA: 18.6%	8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Shelburne and Hardwick 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	Mohawk Trail	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.