First-time buyer programs
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MassHousing home loansLiving in Hardwick, Massachusetts
Hardwick is a rural town in Worcester County near the Quabbin Reservoir, first settled in 1685 and incorporated under its current name in 1739. The town includes the villages of Gilbertville and Wheelwright along the Ware River in addition to the Hardwick town center, and it has kept much of its agricultural character.
Hardwick at a glance
- $12.74Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $4,852Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 35-40 minDrive to Worcester
- WorcesterCounty
Hardwick's villages and zip codes
Hardwick has three ZIP codes for its villages: 01037 (Hardwick center), 01031 (Gilbertville), and 01094 (Wheelwright).
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Hardwick center | 01037 | The original town common and green. |
| Gilbertville | 01031 | A village on the Ware River where Town Hall (the Myron E. Richardson Municipal Building) is located, home to the Ware-Hardwick Covered Bridge. |
| Wheelwright | 01094 | A smaller village along the Ware River. |
Things to do in Hardwick, MA
Start with Ware-Hardwick Covered Bridge and Hardwick Fair, then 2 more below.
Ware-Hardwick Covered Bridge
A covered bridge spanning the Ware River in Gilbertville, part of the village's historic district.
Gilbertville, MA
Hardwick Fair
An annual agricultural fair established in 1762, described as the oldest annual fair in the United States.
Hardwick, MA
Muddy Brook Wildlife Management Area
A state wildlife management area offering outdoor recreation such as hiking and hunting.
Hardwick, MA
Quabbin Reservoir (northwest border)
The Quabbin Reservoir borders Hardwick to the northwest, part of the larger Quabbin watershed lands used for fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing under state permit rules.
Hardwick, MA
More worth a visit
- Eagle Hill SchoolA private school founded in 1967, located in Hardwick.
Around the calendar
- SeptemberHardwick FairAn agricultural fair established in 1762, considered the oldest annual fair in the United States.
A little history
The area was first settled in 1685, originally known as Wombemessock and later Lambstown, before being incorporated as Hardwick in 1739, named for Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke.
Textile and paper manufacturing grew in Hardwick's villages in the late 1800s but had largely departed by the 1930s.
The Hardwick Fair, established in 1762, is considered the oldest continuously held annual fair in the United States.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Hardwick
Hardwick's outdoor recreation centers on the Ware River villages, the Muddy Brook Wildlife Management Area, and the Quabbin Reservoir watershed along the town's northwest border.
- Quabbin Reservoir watershedReservoir and surrounding state-owned watershed land bordering Hardwick to the northwest, used for fishing and hiking under state rules.
- Muddy Brook Wildlife Management AreaState wildlife management land in Hardwick.
- Ware RiverRuns through the eastern part of town near Gilbertville and Wheelwright, with marshy lowlands.
Walkability and getting around Hardwick
Hardwick's villages, including Gilbertville and the town center, have limited sidewalks in their small historic cores, and most of this large, rural town is built for driving.
Drive times
- Worcester, about 24 miles35-40 min
- Worcester Regional Airport, about 28 miles40-45 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Hardwick has no fixed-route public bus service. The Massachusetts Central Railroad line passes through town from Palmer toward Barre, but there is no passenger rail station.
Hardwick property taxes
Hardwick's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.74 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,274 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $4,852, on an average assessed value of $380,842.
Hardwick's FY2026 tax rates
$12.74per $1,000, residential
- Residential$12.74 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$380,842
- Average single-family tax bill$4,852
- Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value
The village of Gilbertville is served by its own water district, the Gilbertville Water District, separate from the town government.
Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
How the residential rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Residential rate |
|---|---|
| FY2022 | $14.70 |
| FY2023 | $13.30 |
| FY2024 | $12.62 |
| FY2025 | $13.15 |
| FY2026 | $12.74 |
Look up a Hardwick property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 413-477-6709
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Hardwick
What we check on a Hardwick purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, foundations, wells & septic, quabbin watershed.
Check the flood zone first
The Ware River runs through the eastern part of Hardwick near Gilbertville and Wheelwright, and low-lying land nearby can fall within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for HardwickSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Hardwick Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 413-477-6383 to schedule.
Hardwick Fire Department pageAsk about foundation testing
The Massachusetts Geological Survey at UMass Amherst lists Hardwick among the towns at moderate risk from pyrrhotite, a mineral linked to crumbling concrete foundations, based on distance from the Connecticut quarry that supplied the concrete. On a home with a poured concrete foundation, ask whether it has been tested.
UMass pyrrhotite guideMost of Hardwick relies on private wells and septic
Outside the Gilbertville Water District's service area, Hardwick properties typically use private wells and septic systems. Massachusetts requires a Title 5 septic inspection before most home sales.
Land near the Quabbin Reservoir has state watershed restrictions
Hardwick's northwest border adjoins the Quabbin Reservoir watershed, where state-owned land carries its own access and use rules. Buyers near this edge of town should confirm boundaries with the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.
Thinking about buying in Hardwick?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Hardwick address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Hardwick: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Hardwick.
- WaterGilbertville Water District serves the Gilbertville village area; other parts of town rely on private wells
- Registry of Motor VehiclesUpdate your address with the RMV within 30 days. Excise tax goes to the city or town where the car is garaged.Mass. RMV
Town Hall offices and contacts
Hardwick Town Hall is at 307 Main Street, Gilbertville, MA 01031. Main line: 413-477-6197.
- Town HallMain line and website413-477-6197
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records, and elections.413-477-6700
- Board of AssessorsProperty values and assessments.413-477-6709
- Town Treasurer / CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.413-477-6197
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections.413-477-6197
- Board of HealthSeptic (Title 5) and wells.413-477-6197
- Fire DepartmentFire safety, inspections and smoke-certificate compliance.413-477-6383
- Highway DepartmentRoads and town infrastructure.413-477-6705
- Gilbertville Water DistrictPublic water service for the Gilbertville village area.413-478-2452
- Paige Memorial LibraryThe town's public library.
- Quabbin Regional School DistrictThe town's regional school district.
Hardwick, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Hardwick, MA?
Hardwick's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.74 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Hardwick?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $5,096 a year at $12.74 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Hardwick have a split tax rate?
No. Hardwick uses a single rate of $12.74 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Hardwick?
The average single-family tax bill in Hardwick was $4,852 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $380,842.
What county is Hardwick, MA in?
Hardwick is in Worcester County.
What ZIP codes does Hardwick use?
Hardwick has three ZIP codes: 01037 for the town center, 01031 for Gilbertville, and 01094 for Wheelwright.
Where is Hardwick's Town Hall?
Town Hall, the Myron E. Richardson Municipal Building, is at 307 Main Street in the Gilbertville village, ZIP 01031.
How far is Hardwick from Worcester?
Hardwick is about 20-24 miles from Worcester, roughly a 35-40 minute drive.
Is there a covered bridge in Hardwick?
Yes. The Ware-Hardwick Covered Bridge spans the Ware River in the Gilbertville village.
What is the Hardwick Fair?
The Hardwick Fair, established in 1762, is described as the oldest annual fair in the United States and is held in Hardwick each year.
Towns near Hardwick
Neighbors of Hardwick, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Hardwick, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Gilbertville, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Hardwick - Massachusetts Municipal Association: mma.org
- Town of Hardwick official website - Directory: hardwick-ma.gov
- Tax rates and average single-family value and tax bill: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
- Motor vehicle excise: M.G.L. c. 60A, $25 per $1,000 of value statewide.
- Walkability: Walk Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Checked September 25, 2026.