Compare towns
Barre vs Hardwick vs Lancaster vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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.
| Measure | Barre | Hardwick | Lancaster | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
2,684Lowest |
8,606 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Lancaster 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Lancaster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Nashoba | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | — | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.