Compare towns
Hardwick vs Lowell vs Springfield vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Lowell | Springfield | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
118,368 |
154,749Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
| Hardwick and Barre 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% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Barre 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% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
| Lowell 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 37% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Barre and Lowell 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Lowell | Springfield | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | Springfield Central High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
12.2Lowest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.