What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the highest household income ($108k).

Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Hatfield
People
Population	5,572Highest	3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA	46.8±5Highest 17% above MA
	Hatfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%	14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Barre and Hatfield 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%	23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hatfield 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 MA: 47.3%	48.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Hatfield 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	$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA
	Barre and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA	$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA
	Hatfield and Barre 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	$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA
	Hatfield and Barre 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	$4,930Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hatfield 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%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	20 minLowest 30% below MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield 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	#198 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Hatfield
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	6.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.