Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Hardwick vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamsburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Chesterfield has the most homeowners (92.2%).
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.
| Measure | Williamsburg | Hardwick | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,694Highest |
2,684 |
1,055Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
44.3±7.6Lowest 11% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Chesterfield and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,792±$21kHighest about the MA average |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$103,967±$11k about the MA average |
| Williamsburg and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,100±$37kHighest 28% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$390,800±$48k 30% below MA |
| Williamsburg and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228Highest 19% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,078±$409Lowest 39% below MA |
| Williamsburg and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,761 4% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,969Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
10.3%±84.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.4%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg and Chesterfield 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 | Williamsburg | Quabbin | Chesterfield-Goshen |
| 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 |
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.