Compare towns
Barre vs Douglas vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Douglas | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
9,207 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Douglas and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Webster 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster 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% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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±$13k 4% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Douglas 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 |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Douglas and Webster 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 |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster 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% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Douglas | Webster |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Douglas High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
7.2Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.