Compare towns

Barre vs Hardwick vs Hatfield vs Killingly

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Hatfield has the most people working from home (16%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k 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.

MeasureBarreHardwickHatfieldKillingly
People
Population
5,572
2,684Lowest
3,325
17,867Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-10.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.8±8.5
13% above U.S.
45.3±9.8
16% above U.S.
46.8±5Highest
20% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Hatfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.8%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
23.3%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Hatfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$13kHighest
33% above U.S.
$75,000±$22kLowest
7% below U.S.
$89,005±$25k
10% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
Barre and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,300±$55k
19% above U.S.
$346,700±$67k
4% above U.S.
$440,800±$26kHighest
32% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
Hatfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,030±$713Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,108±$119
22% below U.S.
$1,267±$216Highest
10% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
Hatfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,163Highest
66% above U.S.
$4,400
41% above U.S.
$4,930
58% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±27.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±13.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.6%±11.8
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
68.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
11.2%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
8.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Hatfield 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 #163 of 282 in MA #198 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT
School district Quabbin Quabbin Hatfield Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town Quabbin Regional High School None in town Smith Academy Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Highest
—
6.1Lowest
11.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.