Compare towns
Hardwick vs Rye vs Barre
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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
Barre has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Rye | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
5,611Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rye 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% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Rye 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% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #163 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Rye School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.