Compare towns
Hardwick vs Plainfield vs Brooklyn
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 expensive homes ($347k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Brooklyn has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Plainfield | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
15,141Highest |
8,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Brooklyn 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Plainfield 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. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$96,207±$15kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Brooklyn 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. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,538Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brooklyn and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Quabbin | Plainfield School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.