What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	West Brookfield	Hardwick
People
Population	3,859Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA	45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA
Kids under 18	13%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hardwick and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Highest MA: 47.3%	30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,613±$12kHighest 8% below MA	$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA
	West Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$354,000±$21kHighest 37% below MA	$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA
	West Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,236±$271Highest 30% below MA	$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA
	West Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,260Lowest 29% below MA	$4,400Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hardwick and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest MA: 10%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 44% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	18.9%±15Highest MA: 18.6%	8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	West 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	#162 of 282 in MA	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Quaboag Regional	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.