Compare towns
Hardwick vs Woonsocket vs Barre vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Woonsocket | Barre | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
43,521Highest |
5,572 |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Bernardston 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Hardwick 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bernardston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest 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±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$81,940±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
| 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,283±$553Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Bernardston and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,516 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bernardston 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Quabbin | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
12.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.