Compare towns
Hardwick vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
North Brookfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1953).
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 | Strafford | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
4,306 |
4,760Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Strafford 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% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Strafford 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% |
40.2%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% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Strafford 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. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$359,100±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,176Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Hardwick 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% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Strafford School District | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 5.5 |
| 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.