Compare towns
Barre vs Hardwick vs Maynard vs Blackstone
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 homeowners (75.8%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Maynard | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
2,684Lowest |
10,712Highest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone 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% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$94,191±$21k 9% below MA |
| Maynard and Barre 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 |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,189±$85 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Blackstone 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Maynard | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Maynard High | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 9.7Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.