Compare towns
Addison vs Barre vs Mendon vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k median).
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 | Addison | Barre | Mendon | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175 |
5,572Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 37% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5 30% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Addison and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Barre and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23k 9% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Barre and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,443±$984 about the U.S. average |
| Addison and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 87% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
19 min 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Addison 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Quabbin | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | Quabbin Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.