Compare towns
Barre vs Hardwick vs Lee
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%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Lee has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
2,684Lowest |
5,719Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Lee 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee 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% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Lowest 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±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
| Barre and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
| Barre and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
| Lee and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Lee 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% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Lee |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| 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.