Compare towns

Townsend vs Hardwick vs Uxbridge

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Uxbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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.

MeasureTownsendHardwickUxbridge
People
Population
9,100
2,684Lowest
14,473Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
MA: +7.4%
-10.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.3Lowest
about the MA average
45.3±9.8Highest
13% above MA
41.7±2.8
4% above MA
Hardwick and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
20.5%±5.6
MA: 19.4%
19.5%±3.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Townsend and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.1%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±5Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.1%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Hardwick and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.5%
MA: 47.3%
30.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
38%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.4
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±4.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Hardwick and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,528±$23k
17% above MA
$75,000±$22kLowest
28% below MA
$124,725±$7kHighest
20% above MA
Uxbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$433,200±$22k
23% below MA
$346,700±$67kLowest
38% below MA
$441,100±$25kHighest
22% below MA
Uxbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$313
17% below MA
$1,108±$119Lowest
37% below MA
$1,555±$265Highest
12% below MA
Uxbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,031Highest
about the MA average
$4,400Lowest
27% below MA
$5,836
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±16.8
MA: 51.8%
59%±13.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
25.6%±5.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Hardwick and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
MA: 10%
11%Highest
MA: 10%
3.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82%Highest
MA: 62.5%
68.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
79.9%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
27% above MA
31 minLowest
7% above MA
37 min
26% above MA
Work from home
10.5%±2.8
MA: 18.6%
8.7%±4.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
15.9%±3.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Uxbridge and Townsend 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 #136 of 282 in MA #163 of 282 in MA #183 of 282 in MA
School district North Middlesex Quabbin Uxbridge
High school in town North Middlesex Regional None in town Uxbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
—
11.6Lowest
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.