Compare towns
Barre vs Easthampton vs Townsend vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Blackstone 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 | Easthampton | Townsend | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
16,086Highest |
9,100 |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
| Easthampton 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% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Townsend 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% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton 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 MA: 47.3% |
38%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
31.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton 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 |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$94,191±$21k 9% below 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 |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
| Townsend and Blackstone 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 |
$1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,189±$85 33% below MA |
| Townsend and Easthampton 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 |
$4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Easthampton 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 | #92 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Easthampton | North Middlesex | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Easthampton High | North Middlesex Regional | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
9.8Lowest |
13.1 |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.