Town · Massachusetts

Hardwick, Massachusetts

Hardwick, town, in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Hardwick had 2,736 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,667 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,684 (±15). GEOID 2502728740.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

2,736

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,667 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,684 ±15

Median household income

$75,000

±$21,953 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960

Median home value

$346,700

±$67,201 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100

Median gross rent

$1,108

±$119 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762

Where is Hardwick and what county is it in?

Hardwick is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It covers 38.6 square miles of land, 69 residents per square mile in 2020.

Hardwick is in the Worcester, MA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Hardwick (marked with a dot) in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Hardwick, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 2,736 people lived in Hardwick on July 1, 2025, up 2.7% since 2020, faster than Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 2,667 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,684 (±15).

  • July 2020→2021 +11 (2,671)
  • 2021→2022 +4 (2,675)
  • 2022→2023 +9 (2,684)
  • 2023→2024 +36 (2,720)
  • 2024→2025 +16 (2,736)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureHardwickWorcester CountyMassachusettsChange since 2015-2019
Total population2,684±15867,7887,044,056−364
Households1,138±128335,8262,785,042no clear change
Average household size2.34±0.262.502.44no clear change
Housing units1,219±143355,1853,030,406no clear change

Hardwick's population since 2000

From 2,622 in 2000 to 2,736 in 2025: up 4.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Hardwick as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 2,622
  • 2005 (estimate) 2,837
  • 2010 Census 2,990
  • 2015 (estimate) 3,024
  • 2020 Census 2,667
  • 2025 (estimate) 2,736

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Hardwick?

The median resident of Hardwick is 45.3 years old; 20.5% are under 18 and 22.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.9%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureHardwickWorcester CountyMassachusettsChange since 2015-2019
Median age45.3±9.840.240.0no clear change
Under 18 years20.5%±6.1 pts20.6%19.4%–
65 years and over22.7%±5.9 pts17.0%17.9%–
Male50.3%±3.8 pts49.7%48.9%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)5.9%±5.2 pts13.7%13.3%–
White alone, not Hispanic91.2%±5.3 pts70.3%66.6%no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.1%±0.4 pts4.8%6.4%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.2%±0.3 pts5.3%7.3%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.6 pts0.1%0.1%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.6 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic2.6%±1.7 pts4.7%5.1%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.6 pts1.1%1.2%–
Born outside the United States3.3%±2.2 pts14.5%18.0%–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)3.9%±3.4 pts22.3%25.1%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)4.4%±1.7 pts5.0%4.3%–
With a disability16.3%±4.5 pts13.4%12.3%–
No health insurance coverage1.8%±1.4 pts2.5%2.6%–
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)94.7%±2.6 pts91.2%91.4%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)30.9%±6.8 pts39.7%47.3%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)9.2%±3.0 pts16.8%21.8%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier97.7%±1.6 pts88.8%88.3%–
Moved from another state in the past year0.5%±0.7 pts1.7%2.2%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Hardwick earn?

Half of Hardwick's 1,138 households earn less than $75,000 a year (±$21,953), against $95,939 in Worcester County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $68,990 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
MeasureHardwickWorcester CountyMassachusettsChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$75,000±$21,953$95,939$103,960no clear change
Mean household income$97,939±$14,014$124,653$144,950–
Per capita income$41,931±$5,805$48,914$57,897no clear change
People below the poverty line11.0%±7.3 pts10.3%10.0%–
Children under 18 below the poverty line19.6%±17.8 pts12.1%11.7%–
Households receiving SNAP18.3%±6.4 pts15.9%14.7%–
Households with a computer96.0%±3.1 pts95.7%95.7%–
Households with a broadband subscription93.1%±3.8 pts92.9%92.8%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Hardwick?

Owners occupy 68.2% of Hardwick's occupied homes and renters 31.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $346,700 by its owner (±$67,201). The median renter pays $1,108 a month including utilities, and 51.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureHardwickWorcester CountyMassachusettsChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$346,700±$67,201$423,700$562,100+$80,255
Median gross rent$1,108±$119$1,426$1,762no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent51.6%±17.5 pts40.5%41.8%no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$2,152±$322$2,387$2,726–
Owner-occupied homes68.2%±9.2 pts65.8%62.5%no clear change
Renter-occupied homes31.8%±9.2 pts34.2%37.5%–
Housing units1,219±143355,1853,030,406no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate0.0%±5.3 pts0.5%0.6%–
Rental vacancy rate0.0%±11.1 pts3.3%3.5%–
Single-family detached homes65.1%±8.7 pts56.7%51.1%–
Mobile homes0.0%±3.4 pts0.8%0.8%–
Built 2020 or later0.0%±3.4 pts0.7%1.0%–
Built 2010 to 20194.7%±3.1 pts5.0%6.2%–
Built 1939 or earlier42.0%±7.6 pts27.5%30.5%–
Households with no vehicle5.0%±3.3 pts8.3%11.7%–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Hardwick building?

Builders took permits for 8 new housing units in Hardwick in 2025 (8 in single-family houses), 2.9 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.

  • 2019 6 units
  • 2020 6 units
  • 2021 2 units
  • 2022 4 units
  • 2023 11 units
  • 2024 (5 months) 9 units
  • 2025 8 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Hardwick work and get to work?

71.7% of Hardwick's workers drive alone and 8.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 31.2 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureHardwickWorcester CountyMassachusettsChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)57.0%±8.5 pts66.5%67.0%–
Unemployment rate4.7%±3.1 pts5.3%5.2%–
Drove alone to work71.7%±12.9 pts70.5%61.2%–
Carpooled17.6%±14.1 pts7.8%7.0%–
Public transportation1.7%±2.7 pts1.5%6.5%–
Walked0.2%±0.9 pts2.2%4.1%–
Worked from home8.7%±4.9 pts15.6%18.6%no clear change
Mean travel time to work31.2 min±4.529.2 min29.1 minno clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Hardwick?

1 census tract lies mostly in Hardwick (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Hardwick, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Hardwick
Tract 7231Worcester County3,657 $86,554 $376,40063%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Hardwick) · Census block assignment files

How does Hardwick compare with other places in Massachusetts?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Hardwick is the 3,831st-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 197th-most populous of 266 in Massachusetts.

Hardwick ranks 399th of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Hardwick's rank in Massachusetts (1 = highest): by population among the state's towns and townships with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate197th266
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)92nd292
Residents per square mile442nd461
Median household income399th453
Per capita income401st460
Median home value398th459
Median gross rent358th410
Bachelor's degree or higher382nd459
Median age208th461
Owner-occupied share356th460
Work from home389th429
Travel time to work187th459

Hardwick's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)

Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Hardwick with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Hardwick?

22 of the 57 figures for Hardwick on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Hardwick are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.