Compare towns
Barre vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Hanson has the most kids (25% 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 | Hanson |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
1,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
44±4.3Highest 10% above MA |
| Hanson 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% |
25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson 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% |
19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson 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% |
35.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$119,211±$24kHighest 15% above MA |
| Hanson 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 |
$513,000±$55kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,429Highest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
— |
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minLowest 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.