Barre, MA vs Harwich Center, MA

Barre, MA and Harwich Center, MA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3% difference in their overall index. Barre scores 120 while Harwich Center scores 123 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Barre is $1,906/month compared to $1,355/month in Harwich Center — a 41% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Harwich Center has cheaper rent, Barre actually has lower median home values ($313,100 vs $546,600).

Median household income in Barre is $55,625 compared to $76,944 in Harwich Center (-27.7%). While Harwich Center is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Barre spend roughly 41.1% of their income on rent, more than the 21.1% in Harwich Center. The Harwich Center ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (48.3°F vs 50.9°F). Harwich Center receives more rainfall at 45.2" per year compared to 42.2" in Barre.