Compare towns
Barre vs Blackstone vs Dedham
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 homeowners (75.8%).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Barre | Blackstone | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
9,255 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Dedham 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% |
31.9% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Dedham and Barre 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 |
$404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,189±$85 33% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$5,703 5% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Blackstone 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 | #207 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Blackstone-Millville | Dedham |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Blackstone Millville RHS | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
13.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.