Compare towns
Barre vs Hardwick vs Shirley
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 youngest population (median age 43.8).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
2,965Lowest |
6,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Shirley 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% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shirley and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Shirley 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley 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. |
$92,297±$17kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Shirley 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. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Barre 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. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Hardwick 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.