Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ashburnham vs Ware 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
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Hardwick | Ashburnham | Ware | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
6,415 |
10,048Highest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% 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 | 20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
| Ashburnham and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Ashburnham-Westminster | Ware | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| 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.