Compare towns
Barre vs Hardwick vs Putnam vs Townsend
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 most people working from home (11.2%).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Putnam | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
2,684Lowest |
9,292Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Hardwick 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%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest 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% |
5.1%±2.4 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±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 19% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Barre 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±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% 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% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above 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% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Putnam School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Putnam High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 9.5Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.