Compare towns
Barnard vs Middlesex vs Townsend vs Stockbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Stockbridge has the most affordable homes ($284k 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 | Barnard | Middlesex | Townsend | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
1,943 |
9,100Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
55.3±5.3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stockbridge and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$77,109±$12kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$283,500±$26kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,140±$126Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$4,488Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.3%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stockbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.6%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stockbridge and Middlesex 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | North Middlesex | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
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| 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.