Compare towns
Barre vs Epping vs Hardwick vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Rutland has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
7,430 |
2,684Lowest |
9,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.4±2.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Epping 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%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rutland and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest 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% |
42%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$145,707±$28kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rutland and Barre 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±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$462,800±$33kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Rutland and Epping 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. |
$1,078±$170 24% below U.S. |
| Epping and Hardwick 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. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,657 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7 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% |
2.1%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% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer 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. |
37 minHighest 40% 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% |
16.1%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Rutland 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #163 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Epping School District | Quabbin | Wachusett |
| 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 |
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| 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.