Compare towns
Barre vs Cornish vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k 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.
| Measure | Barre | Cornish | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
1,816Lowest |
3,554 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Cornish 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Cornish 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 33% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Barre and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$5,209 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornish and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornish 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Quabbin | Cornish School District | — |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
U.S. 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.