Compare towns
Barre vs Fall River vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | Fall River | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
94,082Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 4% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Barre and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$395,500±$11kHighest 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Fall River and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,155±$27Highest 34% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Fall River and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Barre and Hardwick 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | B M C Durfee High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.