Compare towns
North Brookfield 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 highest household income ($79k).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Ware | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,760 |
6,369Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% 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 |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% 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±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA |
| Hardwick and Ware 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 |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±15.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest 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% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 28% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Brookfield | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | North Brookfield High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5 |
— | — |
| 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.