Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ware vs Dudley 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).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Ware | Dudley | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
6,369 |
11,929Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Dudley 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% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
| Barre and Dudley 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 |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
| Barre and Dudley 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 |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Dudley 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 |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3Highest |
12.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.