Compare towns
North Brookfield vs Hardwick vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Brookfield has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | North Brookfield | Hardwick | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,760 |
2,684Lowest |
5,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% 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 | 16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
| Barre and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA |
$1,030±$713 42% below MA |
| Hardwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 28% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| North Brookfield and Barre 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 | #270 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Brookfield | Quabbin | Quabbin |
| High school in town | North Brookfield High | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| 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.