Compare towns
North Brookfield vs Needham vs Ware vs Hardwick
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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Needham | Ware | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,760 |
32,459Highest |
10,048 |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Ware 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±15.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 28% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #270 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Brookfield | Needham | Ware | Quabbin |
| High school in town | North Brookfield High | Needham High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.