What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barre	Cheshire
People
Population	5,572Highest	3,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA	53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA
	Cheshire and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%	15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Barre and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Cheshire 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA	$69,803±$14kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA	$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713 42% below MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 14% below MA	$3,005Lowest 50% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Highest MA: 51.8%	21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Barre and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest MA: 10%	8.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Barre and Cheshire 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	#274 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Hoosac Valley Regional
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Hoosac Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.