Compare towns
North Brookfield vs Hardwick vs Warren
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).
Hardwick has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,760 |
2,684Lowest |
5,009Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below 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% |
20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Warren 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% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest 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±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% 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 | $359,100±$32kHighest 36% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$333,700±$35kLowest 41% 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 | $981±$63 44% below MA |
$1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield 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 |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest 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% |
9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 28% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| North Brookfield and Hardwick 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 | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Brookfield | Quabbin | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | North Brookfield High | None in town | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
| 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.