Compare towns
Hardwick vs Lawrence 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 affordable homes ($347k median).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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.
| Measure | Hardwick | Lawrence | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
88,736Highest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Lawrence 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 |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$79,285±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
| North Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
$359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,176 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
12.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| North 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Lawrence | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| 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.