Compare towns
Barre vs Cheshire vs Blackstone
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%).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Cheshire | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
3,216Lowest |
9,255Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA |
43.2±1.7Lowest 8% 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%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest 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%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$94,191±$21k 9% below MA |
| Barre and Blackstone 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 |
$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
$404,400±$34kHighest 28% 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 |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
$5,703Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest 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% MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Blackstone and Barre 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 | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Hoosac Valley Regional | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Hoosac Valley High School | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.5Lowest |
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.