What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).

Barre has the most people working from home (11.2%).

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	Hanson	Barre
People
Population	10,660Highest	5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA
	Barre and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA	$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA
	Hanson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,402Highest 7% above MA	$5,163Lowest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	8.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Barre and Hanson 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	#149 of 282 in MA	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Quabbin
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	12.9Lowest
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.