What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most homeowners (75.8%).

Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Barre	Clinton
People
Population	5,572Lowest	15,563Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA	38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA
	Barre and Clinton 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%	17.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Clinton 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%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Barre and Clinton 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%	36.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Clinton 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±$13kHighest 4% above MA	$89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA
	Barre and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA	$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA
	Barre and Clinton 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	$1,402±$76Highest 20% below MA
	Clinton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 14% below MA	$4,654Lowest 22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	40.3%±6.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Clinton and Barre 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%Highest MA: 62.5%	54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	14.2%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Clinton 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	#246 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Clinton
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Clinton Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	12.8Lowest
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.