Compare towns
Barre vs Gardner 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).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Gardner | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
21,148Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
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% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Gardner 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% 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±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Barre and Hardwick 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 |
$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Gardner 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 |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Barre 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Gardner | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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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.