What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).

Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).

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	Brookfield	Hardwick
People
Population	3,460Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA	45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA
	Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hardwick and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	30.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9%	6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,250±$37kHighest 22% below MA	$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA
	Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA	$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA
	Hardwick and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA	$1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA
	Hardwick and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,092Highest 15% below MA	$4,400Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hardwick and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%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	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 11% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	12%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6%	8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Brookfield 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	#109 of 282 in MA	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Brookfield	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.