Compare towns
Webster vs Hardwick vs Clinton vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | Clinton | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
2,684Lowest |
15,563 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 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+ | 25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Whitman and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,654 22% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Clinton and Whitman 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Quabbin | Clinton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Clinton Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.