Compare towns
North Brookfield vs Windsor Locks vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($359k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Windsor Locks | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,760 |
12,579Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Windsor Locks 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 about the U.S. average |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks 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±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| 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 31% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,176 34% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Brookfield | Windsor Locks School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | North Brookfield High | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5Lowest |
8.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.