Compare towns
Barre vs Blackstone vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Windsor has the most homeowners (96.2%).
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 | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
9,255Highest |
1,065Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.8±6.4Highest 12% above MA |
| Windsor 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% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Windsor 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% |
41.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Windsor 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 |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
| Windsor 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 30% below MA |
$404,400±$34kHighest 28% below MA |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
| 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 42% below MA |
$1,189±$85Highest 33% below MA |
— |
| Blackstone and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$5,703Highest 5% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Barre 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% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor 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 | — |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Blackstone Millville RHS | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
13.6Highest |
— |
| 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.