What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brimfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brimfield	Hardwick
People
Population	3,705Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±5.3Lowest 9% above MA	45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA
	Hardwick and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±6Highest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Brimfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hardwick and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,250±$22kHighest 7% above MA	$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA
	Brimfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$389,100±$27kHighest 31% below MA	$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA
	Brimfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$886±$365Lowest 50% below MA	$1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA
	Hardwick and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,128Highest 14% below MA	$4,400Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.2%±25.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hardwick and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	13.7%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6%	8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Brimfield 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	#108 of 282 in MA	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Brimfield	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.