Compare towns
Hardwick vs Epping vs Barre vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Barre has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Hardwick | Epping | Barre | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
7,430Highest |
5,572 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
| Epping and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441 19% above U.S. |
| Epping and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Petersham 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Epping School District | Quabbin | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.