Compare towns
Barre vs Hardwick vs Worcester
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 most affordable homes ($347k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
2,684Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 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±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
| Barre and Worcester 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 |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 14.6Highest |
| 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.