Compare towns
Barre vs Berlin vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Barre | Berlin | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
3,378Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Berlin and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 17% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Berlin-Boylston | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.