What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).

Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hardwick	Barre
People
Population	2,965Lowest	5,572Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±7.4Highest 21% above U.S.	43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22%	15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	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+	33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barre and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,297±$17kLowest 14% above U.S.	$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S.
	Barre and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S.	$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,030±$713Highest 27% below U.S.
	Barre and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,351Lowest 39% above U.S.	$5,163Highest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.
Work from home	11.8%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hardwick 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	#68 of 70 in VT	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26	Quabbin
High school in town	Hazen Union High School	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.