Compare towns
Whitman vs Webster vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Whitman | Webster | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295 |
17,748Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 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+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 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+ | 31.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 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 | $108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Whitman and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest about the MA average |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 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 | 7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Whitman and Hardwick 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Webster | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| 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.