What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most people working from home (11.2%).

Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).

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	Hanson
People
Population	5,572Lowest	10,660Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA	42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA
	Barre and Hanson 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%	21.6%±3.7Highest 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%±3Highest 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%	42.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Hanson 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	$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA	$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA	$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA
	Hanson 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	$6,402Highest 7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson 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%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Barre and Hanson 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	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.