Compare towns

Hardwick vs Killingly vs North Brookfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
North Brookfield has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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.

MeasureHardwickKillinglyNorth Brookfield
People
Population
2,684Lowest
17,867Highest
4,760
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-10.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+1.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±9.8Highest
16% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.2±9.4
16% above U.S.
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%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.7%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hardwick and Killingly 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
7% below U.S.
$84,350±$8kHighest
4% above U.S.
$79,285±$11k
about the U.S. average
Killingly 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
4% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$359,100±$32kHighest
8% above U.S.
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
22% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$981±$63Lowest
31% below U.S.
Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,400Highest
41% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,176
34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±13.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±15.8
U.S.: 51.1%
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
18% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
8.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Brookfield and Killingly 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 #136 of 149 in CT #270 of 282 in MA
School district Quabbin Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS North Brookfield
High school in town None in town Killingly 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

U.S. 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.