Compare towns
Barre vs Colrain vs Townsend
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 renters (24.2% rent).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Colrain | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
1,627Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
49.6±8.7Highest 24% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Colrain 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%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Townsend 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 |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$1,102±$77 37% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Colrain 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 |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Barre and Townsend 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Mohawk Trail | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.