Compare towns
Barre vs Hardwick vs Needham
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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
2,684Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest 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±$13k 4% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Needham |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.