Compare towns
Brookfield vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Hampden has the highest household income ($105k).
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 | Brookfield | Hardwick | Ware | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460 |
2,684Lowest |
10,048Highest |
4,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
50.9±3.3 27% above MA |
| Brookfield and Hampden 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Ware 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%±5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$104,536±$16kHighest about the MA average |
| Hampden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$358,200±$16kHighest 36% below MA |
| Hampden and Hardwick 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±$119 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,132±$107Highest 36% below MA |
| Hampden and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 15% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,181Highest 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Quabbin | Ware | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.