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Hardwick

Hardwick

Located in Worcester County

$436,727 Average Value
$269 Average Price per Sq Ft
4 Homes For Sale

Fishing, farming and living on the Quabbin

Hugged to the east by the massive Quabbin Reservoir, Hardwick is a small village with farmhouses, tiny merchants and vast forested areas. Neighbors live in colonials and Cape Cods on multiple acres of land behind stone walls, fish on the Quabbin all year long and eat peaches and berries from a local farm when they’re in season. The outdoors are so big in Hardwick and nearby New Salem that the area has ecotourism, says Keith McGuirk, a retired Realtor, and chair of the Economic Development Industrial Corporation in nearby Athol. “It’s great for fishing, hiking and birding, and you can hunt near the Quabbin and launch motorized boats from specific areas,” he says.

Hardwick is a great place to call home.
Hardwick is a great place to call home.
Colonial homes dot the streets of the Hardwick neighborhood.
Colonial homes dot the streets of the Hardwick neighborhood.
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Rolling lots in Central Mass

Real estate in Hardwick includes overgrown lots spanning several acres and single-family homes with sprawling grassy front lawns. Colonials with paved driveways, Cape Cods with dormer windows and one-story houses with farmer’s porches are typical architectural styles. Prices range between $260,000 and $700,000.

Hardwick features homes large and small for different lifestyles.
Hardwick features homes large and small for different lifestyles.
Cape homes are found throughout the Hardwick neighborhood.
Cape homes are found throughout the Hardwick neighborhood.
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Vistas of the Quabbin Reservoir

The Quabbin Reservoir, which provides clean drinking water for 3 million people, borders the east side of Hardwick and spans 39 square miles. Since it’s a water supply, recreation around the Quabbin is limited, but it does have designated fishing areas and boat launch spots. Neighbors can enjoy views of the Quabbin from quiet grassy areas and eat lunch from a picnic table. The peaceful town green has benches and a paved pathway, and neighbors can have a moment of quiet reflection at the Calvin Paige Memorial Fountain, a small Grecian structure with white marble stairs. Paige Memorial Library hosts a writers’ group and arts and crafts workshops inside a grand brick building with Doric columns. “It’s a strictly rural community with a small population,” says McGuirk.

For breathtaking views, the Quabbin Reservoir is a must visit near Hardwick.
For breathtaking views, the Quabbin Reservoir is a must visit near Hardwick.
Enjoy a round of golf with your buddies at Hardwicks Golf Course.
Enjoy a round of golf with your buddies at Hardwicks Golf Course.
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Mimi's CoffeeHouse of Hardwick

Hardwick has a handful of small businesses operating from the ground floor of colonial houses. Mimi’s CoffeeHouse serves breakfast and lunch sandwiches and doubles as a post office. Hardwick House of Pizza bakes fresh pies for take-out or dine-in at one of its red booths and the Whistle Stop serves French toast and hash browns inside a one-story red building with a 1950s-style dining counter. Teresa’s Restaurant in Ware serves Italian cuisine and offers live music. Also in Ware, about 8 miles away, is Big Y World Class Market, home to weekly grocery essentials, and the Old Furnace General Store sells beer, wine and other quick-service goods right in town. Still Life Farm grows fruits like sweet cherries, heirloom apples and gooseberries.

Enjoy a cup of joe at Mimis Coffee Shop in Hardwick neighborhood.
Enjoy a cup of joe at Mimis Coffee Shop in Hardwick neighborhood.
Mimi's Coffeehouse is a great little spot nestled on the Hardwick common.
Mimi's Coffeehouse is a great little spot nestled on the Hardwick common.
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The specialized Quabbin district schools

Hardwick is part of the Quabbin Regional School District, which serves Barre, Hardwick, Hubbardston, New Braintree and Oakham. In Hardwick, kids can attend Hardwick Elementary School, rated B by Niche, before moving on to Quabbin Regional Middle School, which scores a B-minus. They finish at Quabbin Regional High School, which earns a B. Eagle Hill School is also available to Hardwick students, a private boarding school which serves kids in grades 8-12 with diverse learning profiles.

Students of Hardwick enjoy the quality education offered by Eagle Hill School.
Students of Hardwick enjoy the quality education offered by Eagle Hill School.
Hardwick Elementary School has a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1.
Hardwick Elementary School has a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1.
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Out in the middle of the Commonwealth

Hardwick is off the beaten path, and people like it that way. The closest highways are Route 2, about 15 miles north in Athol, and the Massachusetts Turnpike, about 13 miles south near Warren. Worcester is about 45 minutes away, and Springfield takes about an hour. Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, is about an hour away.

Laura Finaldi
Written By
Laura Finaldi
Joseph Furio
Photography Contributed By
Joseph Furio
Drew Webster
Video By
Drew Webster

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Maurissa Thibeault, an experienced agent in this area.

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Hardwick Housing Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$414,950
Median Sale Price
$399,950
Median Single Family Sale Price
$465,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
-1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
12
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
7%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$269

Area Facts

Number of Homes
312
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Median Year Built
1991
Months of Supply
4.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,897
On par with the national average
1,927
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,198
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
960
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
55,321

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

Hardwick Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
2,156
Median Age
47
Population Density
2 ppl/acre
Population under 18
20.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
24.9%
Above the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$74,473
Below the national average
$79,601
Average Household Income
$92,939

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
93.9%
On par with the national average
89%
College Graduates
30.7%
Advanced Degrees
11.9%
% Population in Labor Force
60.8%
On par with the national average
64.9%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
51''
Average Winter Low Temperature
19°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
27''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®®

27 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®®

14 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
Hardwick