Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ware vs Washington 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).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Washington has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Washington | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
10,048Highest |
1,056Lowest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
| Washington 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2Lowest 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±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$79,285±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
| 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 4% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$217,700±$37kLowest 35% 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. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$996±$285 30% below U.S. |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| 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 41% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$4,176 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | Ware | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.