What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).

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	Hanover
People
Population	5,572Lowest	14,845Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA
	Barre and Hanover 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%	26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Barre and Hanover 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%	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Hanover 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	$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA	$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA
	Hanover 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	$9,342Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover 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%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	32 minLowest 10% above MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hanover 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	#69 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	South Shore Vocational Technical High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.3Lowest
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.