Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ware vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
North Brookfield has the highest household income ($79k).
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 | Ware | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
6,369Highest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$22k 28% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$79,285±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
| 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 38% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$359,100±$32kHighest 36% below MA |
| 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 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,176 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
12.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 5.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.