Compare towns
North Brookfield vs Hardwick vs Blackstone
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1953).
Hardwick has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Blackstone has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.
| Measure | North Brookfield | Hardwick | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,760 |
2,684Lowest |
9,255Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.2±1.7Lowest 8% 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%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
31.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest 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 | $79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$94,191±$21kHighest 9% below MA |
| Blackstone and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$404,400±$34kHighest 28% below MA |
| Blackstone 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±$119 37% below MA |
$1,189±$85Highest 33% below MA |
| Blackstone and Hardwick 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 |
$5,703Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±15.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Hardwick 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 28% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Blackstone 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 | #270 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Brookfield | Quabbin | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | North Brookfield High | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| 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.