Compare towns
Webster vs Hardwick vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering WebsterDudley
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Hardwick has the most homeowners (68.2%).
Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k 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 | Webster | Hardwick | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,228 |
2,684Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| 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%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.5 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% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$72,895±$6k 30% 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±$67k 38% below MA |
$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
| Webster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
| Webster and Webster 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 |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest 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% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Webster |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| 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.