Compare towns
Barre vs Epping vs Hardwick vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
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 | Barre | Epping | Hardwick | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
7,430Highest |
2,684 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Barre and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Epping and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Epping and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Epping School District | Quabbin | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.