Compare towns
Hardwick vs Heath 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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
North Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($359k median).
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 | Heath | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
765Lowest |
4,760Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
45.2±9.4Lowest 13% above MA |
| Heath and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Hardwick 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% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest 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 | $75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
| Heath and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$359,100±$32kHighest 36% below MA |
| North Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA |
— | $981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield 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 |
$4,438Highest 26% below MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | — | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 5.5 |
| 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.