Compare towns
Hardwick vs Rowe vs Barre vs Ware
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 most renters (31.8% rent).
Rowe has the most homeowners (90.8%).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Rowe | Barre | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
453Lowest |
5,572 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
48.9±6.4Highest 22% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Rowe 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% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe 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% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe 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% |
26.2% MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 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 |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below 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 |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% 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±$119 37% below MA |
$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Rowe and Hardwick 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 |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
36 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Rowe | Quabbin | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.