Compare towns
Hardwick vs Peterborough 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).
Peterborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
North Brookfield has the most homeowners (69.3%).
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 | Peterborough | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
6,408Highest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Peterborough 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peterborough 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 7% below U.S. |
$98,401±$8kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$404,500±$31kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$359,100±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Peterborough 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,395±$209Highest about the U.S. average |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Peterborough and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,176Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Peterborough 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 | #59 of 120 in NH | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Contoocook Valley School District | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Conval Regional High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0Highest |
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.