Compare towns
Hardwick vs Wareham vs Barre vs Petersham
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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Barre has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Wareham | Barre | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
23,302Highest |
5,572 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Petersham and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Barre 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% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Wareham 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Wareham 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 28% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
| Petersham 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 38% below MA |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Wareham 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 |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Petersham and Wareham 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Wareham 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Wareham | Quabbin | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.