What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Hadley has the most people working from home (20.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barre	Hadley
People
Population	5,572Highest	5,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA	45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA
	Hadley 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%	16.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hadley and Barre 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%	24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hadley 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	61.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hadley 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±$13kLowest 4% above MA	$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA
	Hadley 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±$55kLowest 30% below MA	$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA	$1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA
	Hadley and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Lowest 14% below MA	$5,271Highest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	38.6%±18.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hadley and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest MA: 10%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971 7 yrs newer than MA	1971 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	20 minLowest 33% below MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hadley 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	#116 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Hadley
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Hopkins Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	7.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.