Compare towns
Shirley vs Sutton vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.8%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Shirley | Sutton | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,146Lowest |
9,452Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±14.6Lowest 11% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±8.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±6.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,494±$62k 4% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Sutton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,800±$50k 30% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $982±$797Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Sutton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,398Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±15Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±17.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sutton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.