Compare towns
Hardwick vs Orange 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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Orange | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
7,573Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Orange 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% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$22k 28% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
| Barre and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
| Barre and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,030±$713 42% below MA |
| Hardwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Barre and Hardwick 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.