Compare towns
Wheelock vs Hardwick vs Glover vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Glover has the most kids (22.3% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Wheelock | Hardwick | Glover | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717Lowest |
2,684Highest |
1,051 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48.4±5.9 24% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Wheelock and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Glover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Glover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$73,839±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$264,700±$34k 20% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Glover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$973±$130Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,234 4% above U.S. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±64.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
40 min 50% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock and Glover 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.