Compare towns
Hardwick vs Everett vs Barre vs Buckland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Buckland has the most people working from home (14.1%).
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 | Everett | Barre | Buckland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
50,045Highest |
5,572 |
2,036Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-4.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
49.5±5.4Highest 24% above MA |
| Buckland and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Buckland 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
43.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Hardwick 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 28% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$82,877±$6k 20% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$321,400±$25kLowest 43% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,111±$213 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,761 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Buckland 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Everett | Quabbin | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | Quabbin Regional High School | Mohawk Trail Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
12.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.