Compare towns
Shirley 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 the most people working from home (21%).
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.
| Measure | Shirley | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 6,976Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4Lowest 11% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,600±$36kHighest 24% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Shirley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Shirley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,156Highest 14% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%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 | 40 minHighest 39% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #239 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | 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.