Compare towns
Barre vs Hardwick vs Rowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Hardwick has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Rowe has the most affordable homes ($275k 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 | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
2,684 |
453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
48.9±6.4Highest 22% above MA |
| Rowe and Hardwick 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% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest 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±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
| 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 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
| 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 42% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
| Rowe and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
36 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Barre and Hardwick 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 | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Rowe |
| 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 |
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.