Compare towns
North Brookfield vs Orange 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Hardwick has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Orange | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,760 |
7,573Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Hardwick 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% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Orange 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% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% 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 |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% 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 |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,108±$119Highest 37% 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 | $4,176 30% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest 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% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3% MA: 62.5% |
70%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 28% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Brookfield | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Quabbin |
| High school in town | North Brookfield High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5Lowest |
9.0Highest |
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| 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.