Compare towns
Barre vs Hardwick vs Sutton
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 expensive homes ($394k median).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
2,684 |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Sutton 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% |
44.3%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% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest 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±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Barre and Sutton 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. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Hardwick 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. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% 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% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Barre 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.