Compare towns
Hardwick vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
North Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($359k 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 | Thompson | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
9,337Highest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Thompson and North Brookfield 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$359,100±$32kHighest 8% above 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±$119Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Thompson 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,176 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #163 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Thompson School District | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Highest |
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.