Compare towns
Hardwick vs North Brookfield vs Woonsocket vs Ware
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
North Brookfield has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | North Brookfield | Woonsocket | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
4,760 |
43,521Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% 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%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Hardwick 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% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Woonsocket 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 7% below U.S. |
$79,285±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
| 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±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$359,100±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below 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±$119 22% below U.S. |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| Woonsocket and Hardwick 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. |
$4,176 34% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick 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% |
12.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Brookfield and Ware 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | North Brookfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | North Brookfield High | Woonsocket High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 5.5Lowest |
15.2Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.