Compare towns
Barre vs Clinton vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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%).
Webster has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Clinton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
15,563Highest |
12,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
38.6±2.7 4% below MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% 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%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Clinton 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% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Webster 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% |
36.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Webster 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±$10k 14% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% 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±$19k 31% below MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% 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 |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,654 22% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4 MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Clinton 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% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.7% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest 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 | #271 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 | 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.