What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barre	Hardwick
People
Population	5,572Highest	2,965Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S.	47.1±7.4Highest 21% 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%±5.4 U.S.: 22%	15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27%±5.9Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barre and Hardwick 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.	$92,297±$17kLowest 14% above 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.	$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Highest 27% below U.S.	$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S.
	Barre 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.	$4,351Lowest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.6%±41.3Highest 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%	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	76.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hardwick 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	#68 of 70 in VT
School district	Quabbin	Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Hazen Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	8.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.