Compare towns
Barre vs Hardwick vs Newfields
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 youngest population (median age 43.8).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
2,684 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Hardwick 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 33% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.