What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).

Hardwick has the most homeowners (68.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Webster	Hardwick
People
Population	12,228Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA	45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA
	Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Webster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	30.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA	$75,000±$22kHighest 28% below MA
	Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA	$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA
	Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,198±$85Highest 32% below MA	$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA
	Webster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,234Lowest 46% below MA	$4,400Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest MA: 10%	11%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	8.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hardwick and Webster 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	#271 of 282 in MA	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Quabbin
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.