Compare towns

New Braintree vs Hardwick vs Windsor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).

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.

MeasureNew BraintreeHardwickWindsor
People
Population
973Lowest
2,684Highest
1,065
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-10.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
-7.6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.8±4.6Highest
20% above MA
45.3±9.8
13% above MA
44.8±6.4Lowest
12% above MA
New Braintree and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±4.4
MA: 19.4%
20.5%±5.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.8%±5.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Hardwick and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.6%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±5
MA: 17.9%
18.6%±4.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
New Braintree and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.4%
MA: 47.3%
30.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
41.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±4.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.7%±1.7Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Hardwick and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,500±$8k
4% below MA
$75,000±$22kLowest
28% below MA
$115,563±$10kHighest
11% above MA
Windsor and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$408,800±$27kHighest
27% below MA
$346,700±$67kLowest
38% below MA
$389,700±$32k
31% below MA
New Braintree and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,484±$316Highest
16% below MA
$1,108±$119Lowest
37% below MA
—
New Braintree and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,508Highest
8% below MA
$4,400
27% below MA
$3,867Lowest
35% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.4%±51.2
MA: 51.8%
59%±13.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Hardwick and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.2%
MA: 10%
11%Highest
MA: 10%
3.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.8%
MA: 62.5%
68.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
96.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
23 yrs newer than MA
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 min
26% above MA
31 minLowest
7% above MA
37 minHighest
27% above MA
Work from home
7.4%±3.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
8.7%±4.3
MA: 18.6%
21.2%±5.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #163 of 282 in MA —
School district Quabbin Quabbin —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.