Compare towns
Barre vs Hanson 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 most people working from home (11.2%).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
10,660Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Hardwick 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%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest 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±$13k 4% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Hanson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Barre and Hardwick 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 | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Whitman-Hanson | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
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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.