Compare towns
Barre vs Hardwick vs Pelham vs Townsend
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 affordable homes ($347k median).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Pelham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
2,684 |
1,335Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Pelham 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% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham 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% |
64.8%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% |
2%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Pelham 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 |
$447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Pelham and Townsend 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 |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
10.3% MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.1% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Pelham | 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.