Compare towns
Barre vs Dummerston vs Putney vs Blackstone
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%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Blackstone has the most expensive homes ($404k 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 | Dummerston | Putney | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
2,090Lowest |
2,622 |
9,255Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Dummerston 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
| Barre and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Blackstone and Barre 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. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Blackstone 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | — | 13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
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.