Compare towns
Barre vs Blackstone vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
9,255Highest |
1,647Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Hampton 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 33% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Blackstone and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Blackstone-Millville | Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Blackstone Millville RHS | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
13.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.