Compare towns
Blackstone vs Hardwick vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Hardwick has the shortest commute (31 min average).
North Brookfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1953).
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 | Blackstone | Hardwick | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,255Highest |
2,684Lowest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,191±$21kHighest 9% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
| Blackstone and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34kHighest 28% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
| Blackstone and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85Highest 33% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Blackstone and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703Highest 5% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Blackstone and North Brookfield 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 | #207 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Quabbin | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | None in town | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 5.5Lowest |
| 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.