Compare towns
Barre vs Hardwick vs Putnam
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 highest household income ($108k).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
2,684Lowest |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 33% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Barre and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Barre and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.